Tzefat, where he taught kabbalah to a distinguished group that included R' Moshe Alshikh, R' Yosef Karo, and his famous brother-in-law, R' Moshe Cordovero.
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. Also served as rav in Chelm, Lublin, Tiktin and Ostroh.
Chida - R’ Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806), Jerusalem, Africa, and Europe; Jerusalem born scholar; elected in 1755 to become an emissary for the small Jewish community in Israel; would travel around Europe extensively.
Zera Bareich - Rabbi Berachya Barech bar Yitzhak Isaac Shapira of Krakow (1608-c.1666). Student of R’ Natan Spira, auhor of the Megaleh Amukot.
Netivot Shalom - Rav Sholom Noach Berezovsky (1911-2000), Belarus, Tel Aviv, Yerushalayim, Teveria; Slonimer Rebbe 1981-2000.
Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch - (1808-1888), Germany; Intellectual founder of the Torah Im Derech Eretz school of contemporary Orthodox Judaism. Vocal opponent of Reform Judaism, Zionism, and similarly opposed early forms of Conservative Judaism.
Zohar - Central work of mystical tradition of Kabbalah. Traditionally attributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. First appeared in 13th-century Spain.
Be'er Yitzchak - Rabbi Yitzchak Brenner (died 2008), Bnei Brak; One of the original rabbanim at Yeshivat Netivot Olam in Bnei Brak.
Shulchan Aruch - Compiled by Rav Yoseph Karo in Tzefat, during the 16th century. The most widely accepted code of Jewish law; a condensed and simplified version of the Beit Yosef, a commentary he wrote on the Tur. Rulings are in accordance with Sephardic traditions.
Yalkut Reuveni - R’ Reuven Hoshke HaKohen Sofer (died 1673), Prague; Kabalist and rabbi of Prague. Vast compendium of Midrashim derived from the nigleh level (the oral tradition) and nistar level (the esoteric tradition of Kabbalistic writings).
Midrash Talpiot - R’ Eliyahu be Avraham Shlomo HaKohen (1659–1729), Turkey.
Ben Yehoyada - The Ben Ish Chai - R’ Yosef Hayyim (1834-1909), Baghdad; Chacham of the Baghdad Jewish community for over 50 years. Ben Yehoyada is a commentary on the Aggadic portions of the Talmud.
Ye’arot Devash - Rav Yonatan Eybeschutz (1690-1764), Hamburg, Prague, Vienna, Lithuania; Descendent from the family of R’ Natan Neta Shapira, The Megale Amukot. An exceptional Talmudist, Halachist and Kabbalist, he held positions as Dayan of Prague, and later Rabbi of Altona, Hamburg and Wandsbek.
