Rashi - R’ Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), Troyes, France. "Rabban Shel Yisrael" - The great Rishon who wrote commentary on all areas of Torah.
Taz - R’ David HaLevi Segal (1586-1667), Poland; Polish rabbi, halachic scholar and Talmudic commentator. His best-known work, Turei Zahav, is one of the basic commentaries on the Shulchan Aruch. Son-in-law of the Bach - R. Yoel Sirkes. Also authored Divrei David, a super-commentary on Rashi's Torah commentary.
Pri Megadim - R’ Joseph ben Meir Teomim (1727-1792), Germany.
Siftei Chachamim - R’ Shabbetai ben Yoseph Bass (1641-1718), Poland, Prague, Germany, Amsterdam; A commentary on Rashi’s commentary on Chumash. Mostly a collection of other commentaries, in addition to the author’s own insight meant to give a basic understanding of Rashi.
Rav Chaim Palagi - (1788-1868), Turkey. Chief rabbi of Izmir. Prolific author with 72 known works and many additional manuscripts destroyed in 1841 great fire.
Darash Avraham - R' Nissim Avraham Ashkenazi (1790-1860), Smyrna, Greece; Appointed rabbi of Smyrna in 1838. Compiled Necḥmad le-Mareh, a commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud. Darash Avraham is a collection of sermons arranged in the order of the Torah, to which are appended his father's sermons, entitled Mareh Adam. Was known for his saintly ways and was a friend of the great sage, R' Ḥayyim Palaggi, whose eulogy to Ashkenazi is printed in his Ḥelkam ba-Ḥayyim.
Ramban - Nachmanides – R’ Moshe ben Nachman (1194-1270), Girona, Spain, Akko; A leading Torah scholar of the middle-ages who authored commentaries on Torah and the Talmud. He was a posek who wrote responsa and stand-alone works on Halachic topics, as well as works on mysticism, science and philosophy. Immigrated to Israel at age 72 and settled in Akko.
Tur - Rabbi Jacob ben Asher (1269-1343), Spain; Composer of Arba’ah Turim, tracing Halacha from the Torah through the Talmud and early Poskim, citing the author’s opinions as well as dissenting opinions. Many commentaries were written on the Tur, most prominent among them Rabbi Yosef Karo’s “Beit Yosef,” which formed the basis of the Shulchan Arukh.
Chatam Sofer - R’ Moshe Sofer of Pressburg (1785–1835), Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine. Studied under R’ Nathan Adler and R’ Pinchas Horowitz (Hafla’ah). In 1807 was appointed as Rabbi of Pressburg (Bratislava), where he also founded a large Yeshiva that produced many noted rabbis. Had 10 children with his second wife, who was the daughter of R’ Akiva Eiger. The eldest, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (Ketav Sofer), inherited his father’s position as rabbi of Pressburg. His second son, Shimon (Michtav Sofer), was the rabbi of Krakow.
Maharsha - R’ Shmuel Eidels (1555-1631), Poland. Wrote commentary on the Talmud, named Chiddushei Halachot, and commentary on the aggadot of the Talmud, named Chiddushei Aggadot . Married the daughter of Edel Lifschitz of Posen and the late Brisker Rav. His mother-in-law supported his Yeshiva for over 2 decades, and in appreciation he adopted her name. Also served as rav in Chelm, Lublin, Tiktin and Ostroh.
