Rashi - R’ Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), Troyes, France. "Rabban Shel Yisrael" - The great Rishon who wrote commentary on all areas of Torah.
Maharal - The Maharal of Prague - R’ Yehuda Loew ben Bezalel (1520 - 1609), Prague; Mystically inclined philosopher whose writings left an indelible impression on generations of Ashkenazic Jewry. His numerous philosophical works became cornerstones of Jewish thought and had a profound influence on Chassidic teaching. He also wrote halachic works, including a commentary on the Arba’ah Turim.
Maskil LeDavid - Rabbi David Pardo, an 18th-century Italian rabbi and liturgical poet who led several Sephardic communities. His first work was a commentary on Mishnah (Shoshanim LeDavid). He also wrote on other classic works often neglected by other scholars, such as the Tosefta (Chasdei David) and the Sifrei (Sifrei DeVei Rav), as well as on Rashi’s commentary (Maskil LeDavid).
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.
Rabbi Shimshon of Ostropola - (1600-1648); Kabbalist from Ostropol, Poland. Murdered by Cossacks during Chmelnitzki Massacres of 1648-49 (Tach ve'Tat). Authored a commentary on the kabalistic work Ḳarnayim, and a commentary on the Zohar titled Machane Dan which was not preserved. Other works include a collection of Torah commentaries called Nitzotzay Shimshon. The secrets of Kabbalah were very sacred in the eyes of Rabbi Shimshon, and he was afraid to reveal them. In his writings, he often asks G-d for forgiveness in case he reveals something he was not supposed to..
Minchat Ani - R’ Yaakov Ettlinger (1798-1871), Germany. Studied under Rabbi Asher Wallerstein, son of the famed Shaagas Aryeh, followed by the yeshiva of R' Abraham Bing in Würzburg. While there, attended the University of Würzburg, mainly studying philosophy. Was among the earliest German rabbis possessing academic training. In 1826, appointed district rabbi of Ladenburg, followed by Chief Rabbi of Altona. Became one of the most prominent representatives of German Orthodoxy. His disciples include R' Samson Raphael Hirsch and E' Azriel Hildesheimer.
Rambam - Maimonides - Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (1137-1204), Spain, Morocco, Egypt.
Oznaim Latorah - R’ Zalman Sorotzkin (1881-1966), Ukraine, Belarus, Yerushalayim; Leader of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah.
Ba’al Shem Tov - R’ Yisrael ben Eliezer (1700-1760), Poland, Ukraine; Ffounder of the Chasidic movement. Of humble and obscure origins, was introduced to kabbalah by R’ Adam Baal Shem of Ropczyce. In 1734, presented himself to the world as a "Baal Shem," a "Master of the Name," the title used for holy men who could work miracles. His teachings made kabbalistic teachings accessible to the common Jew, and emphasized ways of drawing closer to the Divine outside of the traditional framework of Torah study.
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 parsha, containing both kabbalistic insights and 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".
Imrei Emes - R’ Avraham Mordechai Alter (1865–1948), Poland, Yerushalayim; The fourth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger. With the outbreak of the 1948 War, was trapped in Yerushalayim and died of natural causes during Shavuot during the siege of the city by the Jordanian Arab Legion. As bodies could not be removed to the Har HaZeitim during wartime, he was buried in the yeshiva courtyard on the condition that he would be reburied elsewhere after the war. However, his sons and successors, the Beis Yisrael and Lev Simcha, declined to go through with the reburial.
Malbim - Rabbi Meir Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Weisser (1809-1879), Poland, Romania, France, Ukraine; Hebrew grammarian, halachic scholar, and author of a uniquely creative and comprehensive Torah commentary. Malbim’s staunch adherence to tradition put him in direct confrontation with Reformers of the Jewish Enlightenment, although he was nonetheless accused by some chasidic leaders of introducing Enlightenment thought in his Torah commentary.
Ibn Ezra - R’ Avraham ben Meir ibn Ezra (1089-1164), Spain; Wrote on grammar, philosophy, astronomy, medicine, and mathematics, but most famous for his Torah commentary. His commentaries focus on grammatical explanations and the "peshat" (plain-sense) meaning of the text.
Seforno - R’ Ovadiah ben Ya’akov Seforno (1470-1550), Italy; In his Tanach commentary, often cites rabbinic statements to address philosophical and textual issues, offering novel interpretations rooted in these traditions. Admired for his wide knowledge by Henry II, King of France, to whom he sent a Latin translation he prepared of his philosophical work, Or Amim.
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.
Tanna debei Eliyahu - A Midrash that reworks earlier Midrashim, using them to highlight ideas like the importance of Tefilla and Torah study. The Talmud attributes a midrash of the same name to Eliyahu HaNavi, though whether the existing midrash is the one referred to in the Talmud has long been a subject of debate. Some date the work as early as the 3rd century CE, while others date it as later as the 10th century.
Chatam Sofer - R’ Moshe Sofer of Pressburg (1785–1835), Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine. Studied under R’ Nathan Adler and R’ Pinchas Horowitz. In 1807, was appointed Rabbi of Pressburg, where he also founded a large Yeshiva producing 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.
