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.
Bnei Yissaschar - R’ Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dinov (1783-1841), Poland; nephew of Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk. The Chozeh of Lublin told him that he was a reincarnation of the great early Torah sages of the tribe of Yissaschar. Best known for his work Bnei Yissas’char, discourses on the Torah and Festivals as viewed from a kabbalistic prospective; Derech Pikudecha, exposition on the 613 mitzvot; Agra DeKallah, a commentary on the Torah; and Hagahot Mahartza on the Zohar.
Rashi - R’ Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), Troyes, France. "Rabban Shel Yisrael" - The great Rishon who wrote commentary on all areas of Torah.
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. Immigrated to Israel at age 72 and settled in Akko.
Pnei Yehoshua - Rav Yaakov Yehoshua Falk (1680-1756), Poland. Germany.
Tznif Melucha - R’ Meir Aryeh Reiss shlit"a; New York. Author of Ori V'yishi.
Kli Yakar - R’ Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz (1550-1619), Chief Rabbi of Prague following the Maharal. His primary work was written after becoming deathly ill and vowing to compose a commentary on the Torah if he survived.
Rama MiPano - R’ Menachem Azariah da Fano (1548-1620), Italy; Talmudist and Kabbalist, and disciple of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero.
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.
Ramchal - Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1746), Venice. Italy; Author of Messilat Yesharim.
Rambam - Maimonides - Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (1137-1204), Spain, Morocco, Egypt.
