The foundations of Rashi’s scholarly career were established during his years in the Rhineland around 1060–1070. He first came to Mainz to study under R. Jacob ben Yaqar (c. 990–1064), a key disciple of Rabbenu Gershom, who is generally regarded as the fountainhead of Ashkenazic rabbinic learning. R. Jacob, renowned for his piety and humility, was credited by Rashi as the most formative influence on his scholarship, analytic abilities, and religious persona. After R. Jacob’s death, Rashi continued at the Mainz academy, then headed by R. Isaac ben Judah (c. 1010–c. 1090), who played a key role in consolidating Rabbenu Gershom’s talmudic interpretations. A year or two later, Rashi transferred to the more recently established Worms academy, to study under R. Isaac ben Eliezer ha-Levi (c. 1000–c. 1080), another disciple of Rabbenu Gershom who was also deeply involved in communal affairs as the spiritual leader of the Worms community – a model Rashi would later emulate in Troyes.