Jewish History
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The Chasam Sofer
Who was the Chasam Sofer? Rabbi Moshe Sofer was born on September 14, 1762 in Frankfort, Germany. He was a child prodigy and was already an advanced Talmudic scholar at the age of seven. At the age of twelve, Rabbi…
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The Vilna Gaon
Who was the Vilna Gaon ? he word "gaon" means genius and on no person could this title be more appropriately bestowed than on Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna. Rabbi Eliyahu was probably the most influential Jewish leader in modern history.…
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The Baal Shem Tov
Who was Baal Shem Tov? The early life of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov is surrounded by mystery. As founder of what is possibly the single most important religious movement in Jewish history, Chassidus, many legends have grown around him…
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The Rada"k
Who was the Rada"k ? R’ Dovid Kimchi lived in Narbonne, Provence (in Southern France) where he was born and died. He was a major grammarian and the author of one of the most important Biblical commentaries. He was the…
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Rabbeinu Gershom
Who was the Rabbeinu Gershom? Answer: Rabbeinu Gershom was one of the first great leaders of the Jews of France and Germany. It is believed that he was born in Metz, Lorraine (now in northeastern France). However, he lived in…
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Rashi
Who was Rashi? RASHI is an abbreviation of the name RAbbi SHelomo YItzchaki (Rabbi Solomon the son of Isaac). He lived in Troyes, France from 1040 to 1105, and is the author of very highly regarded commentaries on most of…
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The Hebrews and the Pyramids
Did the Jews build the pyramids when they were in Egypt? The Jewish people in captivity are credited (in Exodus Ch.1) with building two cities, Pisom and Raamses, for the Egyptians. The pyramids were built much earlier.
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The Exile of King Yechoniah
In what year was King Yechoniah exiled? According to the Seder Olam, Ch.25, King Yechoniah (also known as Yehoyachin) was exiled in the year 3327 by Nebuchadnetzar; see 2 Chronicles 36:9-10.
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Sheshbatzar
Who was Sheshbatzar? He was the official to whom Cyrus gave the Temple vessels to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 5:14). Some identify him with Shenatzar (1 Chronicles 3:18), who was a son of Yechoniah and an uncle of Zerubbabel.