Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin - (1823–1900), Lublin, Poland. Born into a Lithuanian Rabbinic family before becoming a follower of the Chasidic Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica, and Yehudah Leib Eiger - grandson of Rabbi Akiva Eiger. Also a disciple of Rabbi Sholom Rokeach of Belz. As a young man he gained widespread acclaim as an illuy - a brilliant talmudist - but refused to accept any rabbinic post, instead eking out a living by his wife running a small used clothing store. Upon the death of R’ Eiger in 1888, agreed to take over the leadership of the Hasidim and deliver public classes whose transcriptions were compiled into his work known as Pri Tzadik.
Shelah HaKadosh - R’ Yeshayahu ben Avraham HaLevi Horowitz (c.1555-1630), Prague, Frankfurt, and Israel; In 1614, after serving as rabbi in prominent cities in Europe, he left following the Fettmilch Uprising and assumed the prestigious position of Chief Rabbi of Prague. In 1621, he moved to Israel and was appointed rabbi of the Ashkenazi community in Jerusalem. In 1626, moved to Tzefat. In his many kabbalistic and halachic works, he stressed the joy in every action, and how one should convert the evil inclination into good, two concepts that greatly influenced the development of Chasidic Judaism.
Tola'at Ya'akov - Rabbi Meir ben Yechezkel ibn Gabbai (born 1480), Spain, Turkey; His first work, Tola'at Ya'akov, was a kabalistic exposition of Tefillah. His chief work was Avodat Hakodesh, in which he expounds in detail his kabalistic system, closely studying the Rambam in order to refute him. He also wrote an exposition and defense of the Sefirot under the title Derech Emunah, as an answer to his pupil Yoseph ha-Levi, who had questioned him in regard to his doctrine of the Sefirot.
Rashi - R’ Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), Troyes, France. "Rabban Shel Yisrael" - The great Rishon who wrote commentary on all areas of Torah.
Sefer HaChinuch - An anonymous work written in 13th-century Spain that clearly details the 613 commandments and explains the reasons behind them. For each commandment, the author cites a biblical source, addresses the philosophical underpinnings of the commandment, presents a brief overview of the details of its observance, and summarizes the commandment’s applicability.
Har Yeiraeh - Rav Aryeh Leib Finkel (1931-2016), Yerushalayim; Rosh yeshiva of the Mir Brachfeld branch of the Mir Yeshiva. Prior to 2005, served as the Mashgiach at Mir for many decades. Scion of the royal family of Mir. His grandfather, Rav Leizer Yudel, was the eldest son of the Alter of Slabodka. Brother-in-law of Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl. For many years, learned with his uncle, Rav Chaim Shmulevitz. Rav Finkel's renowned shiurim on Sefer Mishlei, which he began delivering in his youth, achieved widespread popularity throughout the yeshiva world. His A blend of mussar and insights into life and Avodat Hashem, some of the shiurim were published in Har Yeiraeh.
Kav Hayashar - R’ Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover (1648-1712), Frankfurt, Germany. Kav ha-Yashar is a kabbalistic collection of stories and guidance serving as a guide to preserving norms of community. It is famous for uplifting the spirits of Jewish communities in Europe after the Chmelnitzki Massacres of 1648-1649.
Atarah L'Melech - Rav Avraham Yaakov Pam (1913-2001), Lithuania, New York; Rav Pam learned in a Yeshiva in Slabodka, where he developed a close relationship with Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky. Rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn, New York. During Rav Pam's sixty-plus years at Torah Vodaas, he held many positions. He even taught mathematics in the Yeshiva, utilizing his degree from the City College. For many years in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s he delivered the semicha class to students studying toward rabbinic ordination.
Rabbi Natan Adler - (1741-1800), Germany; In 1761, established a yeshivah himself, in which several prominent rabbis received their early teachings, notable among whom were R' Avraham Auerbach, R' Abraham Bing, R' Sekl Loeb Wormser, and especially R' Moshe Sofer - the Chatam Sofer in Presburg. Devoted himself to the study of the Kabbala, and adopted the liturgical system of R' Isaac Luria, assembling a select community of kabbalistic adepts. Was one of the first Ashkenazim to adopt the Sephardi pronunciation of Hebrew, and gave hospitality to a Sephardi scholar for several months to ensure that he learnt that pronunciation accurately
Alter of Novardok - R’ Yosef Yoizel Hurwitz - also known as the Saba of Novardok (1847-1919), Lithuania; Student of R’ Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the Musar movement, and of R’ Yitzchak Blazer, R’ Simcha Zissel Ziv, and R’ Chaim Soloveichik. He established the Novardok yeshiva in the city of Navahrudak, and a network of yeshivas in Dvinsk, Minsk, Warsaw, Berdichev, Lida and Zetl.
