Rav Moshe - Ramban (5030 / 1270 - 754th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, known as 'RaMBaN' or 'Nachmanides' [11 Nissan 1270], is accepted as one of the all-time great Talmudic and Scriptural scholars. He was also a master kabbalist, a major link in the transmission of Jewish mysticism. He is well-known as a champion defender of the Jewish faith, as a result of his participation and victory in a famous debate against Christian clergy in 1263. As a result, he was expelled from Spain. Subsequently, he moved to the Holy Land at age 70 where he composed his immortal commentary on the Chamisha Chumshei Torah.
Rav Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz - Shelah Hakadosh (5390 / 1630 - 394th Yahrzeit)
The holy gaon, Reb Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz was born in Lemberg in approximately the year 5230 (1470). Over the years, R' Yeshaya Halevi practiced as rov in various communities: in 5260 (1500) in Dubno, Russia, in 5262 in Ostroa and from 5266 he took over the reins in Frankfurt, leading the prestigious kehilla until their expulsion from the city on 27 Elul 5274 (1514). The rabbi was exiled together with his flock and he returned to Prague, where he was appointed Rov in 5275 (1515). On 8th Elul 5281 the Shloh boarded the ship and after a turbulent, difficult journey he arrived in the holy land on 2nd Kislev, 5282. Upon reaching Yerushalayim, he was immediately accepted as Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisroel.
Rav Shlomo Zalman Lifshitz - Av Beis Din Warsaw, Chemdas Shlomo (5599 / 1839 - 185th Yahrzeit)
Rabbi Shlomo-Zalman Lifshitz (1765-1839) was appointed Chief Rabbi of Warsaw in 1821. In his influential book Chemdas Shlomo, he deals with the problems of his generation, including assimilation. His rulings about conversion still hold great weight today.
Rav Betzalel HaKohen of Vilna - Reishis Bikkurim (5638 / 1878 - 146th Yahrzeit)
