Rashi - R’ Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), Troyes, France. "Rabban Shel Yisrael" - The great Rishon who wrote commentary on all areas of Torah.
Mabit - R’ Moshe ben Yoseph d’Trani (1500-1580), Greece, Yerushalayim, Tzefat. Authored Beit Elokim, a moral and philosophical work on prayer, atonement, and the fundamental principles of faith.
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.
Ba’al HaTurim - Rabbi Jacob ben Asher (1269-1343), Spain; Composer of Arba’ah Turim, tracing Halacha from the Torah through Talmud and early Poskim. Many commentaries were written on the Tur, including R’ Yosef Karo’s “Beit Yosef” which formed the basis of the Shulchan Arukh.
Zohar - Central work of mystical tradition of Kabbalah. Traditionally attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. First appeared in 13th-century Spain.
Mateh Ephrayim - Rav Ephraim Zalman Margoliot (1762-1828), Galicia. Served as Rabbi of Uhniv, but after becoming wealthy in business he gave up the position and devoted his time to Torah study and correspondence.
Rabbeinu Bachya - (Rabbeinu Behaye) R’ Bahya ben Asher (1255-1340), Spain. Torah commentary incorporating the literal meaning along with allegorical, Midrashic, and Kabbalistic interpretations.
Netziv - Rav Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin (1816-1893), Lithuania. Born into a family of Jewish scholars, a descendant on his mother’s side of R’ Meir Eisenstadt. His first wife was the granddaughter of R. Chaim Volozhin, and his second the daughter of R. Yechiel Michel Epstein. In 1854 he was appointed head of the Volozhin yeshiva, where he introduced a style of Talmud study based on broad knowledge of Tannaitic and Geonic literature as well as the Rishonim.
Chizkuni - R’ Chizkiah ben Manoach (1040-1560), France. The details of his biography are unknown. Author of popular commentary on the Torah, which is a compilation of insights culled from the Midrashim, and the writings of twenty Rishonim, including Rashi, Rashbam and Ibn Ezra.
Ben Yehoyada - The Ben Ish Chai - R’ Yosef Hayyim (1834-1909), Baghdad; Chacham of the Baghdad Jewish community for over 50 years. Prominent authority on halacha and a master kabbalist. His work is based on his classes on the weekly parsha, containing both kabbalistic insights as well as practical laws for everyday life. He also composed "Ben Yehoyada", a commentary on the Aggadic portions of the Talmud, and responsa entitled "Rav Pe’alim".
Yalkut Shimoni - Compiled between 11th and 14th centuries in Thessaloniki. The author collected and arranged various interpretations from older midrashim. It contains more than 10,000 statements in aggadah and halakhah covering all of Torah, sourced from more than 50 works of which it is the only source for some of them (Sifrei Zuta, Yelammedenu, Midrash Esfah, Midrash Avkir, Midrash Tadshe, Devarim Zuta).
Midrash HaGadol - A work of aggaddic midrash written by Rabbi David Adani of Yemen (14th century).
Oznaim LaTorah - R’ Zalman Sorotzkin (1881-1966), Ukraine, Belarus, Yerushalayim; Leader of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.
Rav Dan Segal shlit"a - Born 1938 in Shaarei Chesed. Studied in Yeshivat Chorev, Kol Torah under Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and Ponevezh under Rav Chatzkel Levenstein and Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman. Developed a strong relationship with the Steipler, Rav Yakov Kanievsky. Lives in Yerushalayim and Boro Park, NY.
Alsheich HaKadosh - Rabbi Moshe Alsheich (1508–1593), Tzefat; Student of Rabbi Yosef Caro; Rebbe of Rav Chaim Vital.
Rav Shteinman - Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman (1914-2017), Brisk, Switzerland, Bnei Brak; Widely regarded as the Gadol HaDor of the non-Hasidic Lithuanian Haredi Jewish world.
Noam Elimelech - Rav Elimelech (Weisblum) of Lizhensk (1717–1787), Lizhensk; One of the great founding Rebbes of the Chasidic movement. Part of the inner "Chevraya Kadisha" school of the Maggid Rebbe Dov Ber of Mezeritch. The sefer Noam Elimelech developed the Chasidic theory of the Tzaddik into the full doctrine of "Practical/Popular Tzaddikism".
Shaarei Orah - R’ Yosef Giqatillah (1248-1305), Spain; Student of R’ Avraham Abulafia, focused on mystical combinations of letters, numbers and divine names.
Hamaor Shebatorah - Compiled by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Havlin. Presents selections from the Lubavitcher Rebbe`s talks on weekly Parsha.
Pesikta Rabbati - Composed c.600 - c.900. A medieval book of midrash containing midrashim from Pesikta d’Rav Kahana and earlier sources.
HaEmek Davar - Rav Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin (1816-1893), Lithuania. Commentary mostly based on the Netziv’s Parashat Hashavua shiur in the Volozhin Yeshiva.
Rokeach - Rabbi Elazar (ben Yehuda ben Kalonymus) MiGermaiza (1176-1238) Mainz, Worms, Germany; Underwent great sufferings during the Crusades. The last major member of the Hasidei Ashkenaz, a group of German Jewish pietists. Sefer Ha-Roḳeaḥ (The Perfumer) is a halachic guide to ethics and Jewish Law for the common reader. Authored many piyyutim protesting Israel’s suffering and hoping for redemption and revenge against her tormentors.
Chikrei Lev - Rav Aryeh Leib Heiman (1931-2011), Lakewood, Yerushalayim; Student of Rav Aharon Kotler. Rav of the Gra Shul in Bayit Vegan for forty years.
Meshech Chochma - Rav Meir Simcha HaKohen of Dvinsk (1843-1926), Lithuania; Prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Eastern Europe in the early 20th century. Known for his writings on Rambam’ Mishneh Torah, which he titled Ohr Somayach, as well as his novellae on the Torah, titled Meshech Chochma. He reputedly turned down offers for the rabbinate in various large cities, including Jerusalem, New York City and Kovno, and died in a hotel in Riga, Latvia, while seeking medical treatment.
