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".
Shaar Yissachar - Rabbi Chaim Elazar Spira – the Munkaczer Rebbe, also known as the Minchas Elazar (1871-1937). Born in Strzyżów, Galicia (Austria-Hungary, now part of Poland), where his grandfather, R' Shlomo Spira, was a rabbi. His father, R' Tzvi Hersh Spira, was from Spira family which had held rabbinical positions in Munkács dating back to the founder of the Munkács Hasidic dynasty, R' Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dinov - author of Bnei Yisoschor. Became Chief Justice of the Beit Din in Munkács in 1903. Succeeded his father as Chief Rabbi of Munkács and the surrounding communities.
Kedushat Levi - Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-1809), Poland, Belarus, Ukraine; The Berdichever. A child prodigy from a prominent rabbinic family, he was drawn to Chasidism by R' Shmelka of Nikolsburg, who introduced him to the Maggid of Mezritch, under whom he studied for many years. His love of the Jewish people and his charitable interpretations of their actions before G-d are legendary, as was his fervor in prayer and enthusiastic dedication to mitzvot. He is the author of "Kedushat Levi", a collection of chasidic insights into the weekly Torah portion.
Siftei Tzaddik - R' Pinchas Menachem Justman (1848–1920), Poland; The Piltzer Rebbe, also known by the title of his main work, the Siftei Tzadik, a commentary on Torah. Grandson of the Chiddushei Harim, the first Gerrer Rebbe. After the passing of his brother-in-law R' Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, became a Rebbe for some Gerrer Hasidim, in Pilica, Poland.
Ze’ev Yitraf - R’ Zev Hoberman (1930-2012), Lakewood, NJ; One of the distinguished early talmidim of Rav Aharon Kotler, and student of Rav Hutner. Grew up in Baltimore and attended the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore. Served as a R”M and Rebbe at the Yeshiva of Eastern Parkway, Yeshiva of Philadelphia, the Staten Island Yeshiva and Yeshivas Itri, and was the author of sefer Ze’ev Yitraf and other chiddushei Torah.
Abudraham - Rabbi David ben Yosef Abudraham (14th century), Spain; Father of R. Yaakov Ba’al HaTurim.
Tanna debei Eliyahu Zuta - 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.
Sefat Emet - R’ Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter of Gur (1847-1905), Poland; Gerer Rebbe, father of the Imrei Emet. Author of a monumental Torah commentary considered one of the pillars of chasidic thought. The title of the book is based on his last discourse, which ended with a verse from Mishlei: "Sefat Emet Tikon La’ad" — The lips of truth shall be established forever.
Seforno - R’ Ovadiah ben Ya’akov Seforno (1470-1550), Italy; In his Tanach commentary, often cites rabbinic statements to address philosophical as well as textual issues, and offers many 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.
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.
Maharil Diskin - Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin (1818-1898), Lomza, Mezritch, Kovno, Brisk, and Yerushalayim; Opened Diskin Orphan Home in 1881.
Tosafot - Members of a school of Torah and Talmudic interpretation, 12th and 13th century France and Germany.
Sefer Yetzira - Book of Formation, one of the earliest extant books on Jewish esotericism. Traditionally ascribed to Avraham Avinu; or to Rabbi Akiva.
Arizal - Ari HaKadosh, Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-1572), Yerushalayim, Egypt, Tzefat; Considered the forefather of modern Kabbalah.
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.
