Rabbeinu Bachya - (Rabbeinu Behaye) R’ Bahya ben Asher (1255-1340), Spain. Torah commentary incorporating the literal meaning along with allegorical, Midrashic, and Kabbalistic interpretations.
Zohar - Central work of mystical tradition of Kabbalah. Traditionally attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. First appeared in 13th-century Spain.
ha'Lekach ve'Halibuv - Rabbi Avraham HaLevi Shur shlit"a, Flatbush, NY; Rav of Congregation Nezer Gedalyahu and author of numerous works on Jewish theology. Son of R' Gedalia Schorr, former Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas.
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.
Arizal - Ari HaKadosh, Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-1572), Yerushalayim, Egypt, Tzefat; Considered the forefather of modern Kabbalah.
Rashi - R' Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), Troyes, France. "Rabban Shel Yisrael" - The great Rishon who wrote commentary on all areas of Torah.
Mechilta d’Rabbi Yishmael - A halachic midrash on the book of Shemot, compiled around the 3rd century in Israel.
Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh - Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar (1696-1743), Salé, Morocco. Considered to be one of the most prominent Rabbis of Morocco, and in Hassidic Judaism.
Shem Mishmuel - Rav Shmuel Bornsztain (1855-1926), Poland; second Sochatchov Rebbe. A leading Chasidic thinker and a Rebbe to thousands of Chasidim in the Polish cities of Sochaczew (Sochatchov) and Łódź. Son of the first Sochatchover Rebbe, he labored over the compilation and publication of his father's manuscripts and published his father's voluminous responsa on Shulchan Aruch under the title Avnei Nezer.
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.
Malbim - Rabbi Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Weisser (1809-1879), Poland, Romania, France, Ukraine.
Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropola - (1600-1648); Kabbalist in Poland. Murdered by Cossacks during Chmelnitzki Massacres of 1648-49.
Vilna Gaon - (The Gra) R' Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman (1720-1797), Vilnius, Poland, Lithuania. Foremost leader of misnagdic Jewry of the past few centuries. Considered the father of the stream of Lithuanian Kabbalah, and remembered as a leader of the opposition to the Hasidic movement.
Chida - R' Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806), Jerusalem, Africa, and Europe; Jerusalem born scholar and pioneer in the publication of Jewish religious writings. Elected in 1755 to become an emissary for the small Jewish community in Israel; would travel around Europe extensively, making an impression in every Jewish community that he visited.
Paaneach Raza - R’ Yitzchak bar Yehuda HaLevi (13th century), France.
Mahar”i Weil - R’ Yakov Veil (15th century), Germany; Student of the Maharil.
Rav Chaim Vital - (1542-1620), Tzvat, Israel; foremost disciple of Rav Isaac Luria – The Arizal. As a young boy, was educated by the Alsheich HaKadosh, at the request of R' Yoseph Karo. Arrived in Egypt in 1577, but soon returned, settling in the village of Ein Zeitim (near Tzefat) and later in Jerusalem. Later went to live in Damascus, where he became the head of the Sicilian Jewish community and began writing his first works before returning to Tzefat. Also authored Shaar HaGilgulim, a kabbalistic work on reincarnation, which became one of the Shemonah She'arim.
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".
