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.
Beis HaLevi - Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik (1820-1892), Minsk, Brisk, Berlin; Great-grandson of Rav Chaim Volozhin.
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. He was a posek who wrote responsa and stand-alone works on Halachic topics, as well as works on mysticism, science and philosophy. Immigrated to Israel at age 72 and settled in Akko.
Rashi - R’ Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040-1105), Troyes, France. "Rabban Shel Yisrael" - The great Rishon who wrote commentary on all areas of Torah.
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.
Sefer HaYashar - Often attributed to Rabbeinu Tam, Zerahiah ha-Yevani, or R. Jonah Gerondi in 13th century Spain.
Chizkuni - R’ Chizkiah ben Manoach (1040-1560), France. The details of his biography are unknown. Author of popular commentary on the Torah, which is a compilation of insights culled from the Midrashim, and the writings of twenty Rishonim, including Rashi, Rashbam and Ibn Ezra.
Targum Yonatan ben Uziel - Aramaic translation to Nevii’im; One of 80 tannaim who studied under Hillel HaZaken during era of Roman rule.
Ba’al HaTurim - Rabbi Jacob ben Asher (1269-1343), Spain; Composer of Arba’ah Turim, tracing Halacha from the Torah through Talmud and early Poskim. Many commentaries were written on the Tur, including R’ Yosef Karo’s “Beit Yosef” which formed the basis of the Shulchan Arukh.
Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh - Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar (1696-1743), Salé, Morocco. Considered to be one of the most prominent Rabbis of Morocco, and in Hassidic Judaism.
Rosh - R’ Asher ben Yehiel (1250-1327), Germany, Spain; Student of Maharam of Rothenberg; one of Ba’alei Hatosafot.
Abudraham - Rabbi David ben Yosef Abudraham (14th century), Spain; Father of R. Yaakov Ba’al HaTurim.
Chatam Sofer - R’ Moshe Sofer of Pressburg (1785–1835), Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine. Studied under R’ Nathan Adler and R’ Pinchas Horowitz (Hafla’ah). In 1807 was appointed as Rabbi of Pressburg (Bratislava), where he also founded a large Yeshiva that produced 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.
