The Great Rabbis

Who was Rabbi Yitzchak Abohav? There were several Spanish Rabbis named Yitzchak Abohav. The best known, who lived around 1400-1450, wrote the popular work Menoras Ha-Maor, a collection of Talmudic and Midrashic passages on ethical topics.

Who was Rabbenu Chananel? He lived in Kairowan (Tunisia) in the first half of the 1000’s. He is best known for his commentary on the Talmud, based on the commentaries of the last Babylonian Geonim, but also making extensive use…

What is the history of Maimonides’ father, Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef? R. Maimon was a dayan (judge) in Cordova, Spain in the mid-1100’s. He composed commentaries on the Torah and Talmud and a book on the laws of prayer, only…

Who was Rabbi Moshe Feinstein? Rabbi Moshe Feinstein was born in the year 1895 in Uzda, near Minsk, Belorussia where his father was rabbi. In 1921 he became rabbi of Luban, near Minsk, where he remained till he came to…

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…

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.…

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…

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…