Tannaim
Hillel the Elder: biography, teachings and the House of Hillel
The life of Hillel the Elder, sage of the Second Temple period: his Babylonian origin, the seven rules of interpretation, the prozbul and his sayings.
Sages of Israel
Biographies of the great sages
Kabbalists, commentators on the Torah and the Tanakh, teachers of Hasidism and mussar: their lives, their works and what they left behind.
Tannaim until the 3rd century
Tannaim
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai: biography, Yavne and the rebuilding after the Temple
The life of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai: disciple of Hillel, the flight from Jerusalem and the founding of the academy of Yavne.
Tannaim
Rabbi Akiva (c. 50–135): biography, teachings and martyrdom
The life of Rabbi Akiva: from illiterate shepherd to master of the Mishnah, his disciples, the Bar Kokhba revolt and his death reciting the Shema.
Tannaim
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the Rashbi: biography, the cave and the Zohar tradition
The life of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the Rashbi: disciple of Rabbi Akiva, the cave, Meron, Lag BaOmer and his relationship to the Zohar.
Tannaim
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (c. 135–217): biography and the editing of the Mishnah
The life of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, Rabbi, the editor of the Mishnah: his family, his leadership in Tzippori and Beit She’arim, his relationship with Antoninus and his burial.
Geonim 6th–11th centuries
Geonim
Rabbi Saadia Gaon (882–942): biography, works and legacy
The life of Rabbi Saadia Gaon: from Egypt to Babylonia, the polemic with the Karaites, his translation of the Torah into Arabic and Emunot VeDeot.
Rishonim 11th–15th centuries
Rishonim
Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher (1255–1340): biography, Torah commentary and Kad HaKemach
The life of Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher, of Zaragoza: disciple of the Rashba and author of a four-level Torah commentary and of Kad HaKemach.
Rishonim
Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona (c. 1180–1263): biography and Shaarei Teshuvah
The life of Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona: his role in the controversy over Maimonides, his public repentance and Shaarei Teshuvah.
Rishonim
Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra (c. 1089–1164): biography, works and legacy
The life of Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra: his youth in Tudela, his friendship with Yehuda Halevi, his years wandering through Europe and his Torah commentary. With a timeline.
Rishonim
Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, the Rambam (Maimonides): biography, works and legacy
The life of the Rambam, Maimonides: Córdoba, the Almohad exile, his life in Egypt, the Mishneh Torah and the Guide for the Perplexed. With a timeline.
Rishonim
Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, the Ramban (Nachmanides): biography, works and legacy
The life of the Ramban, Nachmanides: Gerona, the Disputation of Barcelona of 1263, his Torah commentary and his arrival in the Land of Israel.
Rishonim
Rabbi Moshe de León (c. 1240–1305): biography and the Zohar
The life of Rabbi Moshe de León, the Castilian kabbalist who made the Zohar known: what is known of him and the debate over its authorship.
Rishonim
Rabbi Ovadia Sforno (c. 1475–1550): biography, works and legacy
The life of Rabbi Ovadia Sforno: Italian Renaissance physician and commentator, Reuchlin’s Hebrew teacher, author of the Torah commentary and of Or Amim.
Rishonim
Rabbi Yehuda Halevi (c. 1075–1141): biography, poetry and the Kuzari
The life of Rabbi Yehuda Halevi: poet, physician and philosopher of Sepharad, author of the Kuzari and the Songs of Zion, and his journey to the Land of Israel.
Rishonim
Rabbi Yitzchak Abravanel (1437–1508): biography, works and exile
The life of Rabbi Yitzchak Abravanel: treasurer in Portugal, financier in Castile, the expulsion of 1492 and his commentaries and messianic works.
Rishonim
Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla (1248–after 1305): biography and Shaarei Orah
The life of Rabbi Yosef Gikatilla: disciple of Abulafia, Castilian kabbalist and author of Shaarei Orah and Ginnat Egoz.
Rishonim
The Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi (c. 1160–1235): biography, grammar and commentaries
The life of the Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi of Narbonne: grammarian and Bible commentator, defender of Maimonides, author of Mikhlol and Sefer HaShorashim.
Rishonim
The Rashbam, Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir (c. 1085–1158): biography and literal commentary
The life of the Rashbam, Rabbi Shmuel ben Meir: grandson of Rashi, a Torah commentator attentive to the literal sense, and tosafist.
Rishonim
Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040–1105): biography, commentaries and legacy
The life of Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki: Worms and Mainz, the Troyes yeshiva, his commentary on the Torah and the Talmud. With a timeline.
Acharonim from the 16th century
Acharonim
The Baal Shem Tov (c. 1700–1760): biography, teachings and the founding of Hasidism
The life of the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer: what the sources say, the legends, his teachings and the birth of Hasidism.
Acharonim
The Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838–1933): biography and works
The life of the Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan: his childhood in Zhetl, the Radin yeshiva, his book on evil speech, the Mishnah Berurah and his humility.
Acharonim
The Maggid of Mezritch, Rabbi Dov Ber (c. 1704–1772): biography and teachings
The life of the Maggid of Mezritch, Rabbi Dov Ber: his meeting with the Baal Shem Tov, his leadership of Hasidism and his disciples.
Acharonim
The Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehuda Löw (c. 1520–1609): biography and works
The life of the Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehuda Löw: his posts in Nikolsburg, Prague and Poznań, his meeting with Rudolf II, his works and the Golem.
Acharonim
The Malbim, Rabbi Meir Leibush Weiser (1809–1879): biography and commentaries
The life of the Malbim, Rabbi Meir Leibush Weiser: his posts in Wreschen, Kempen and Bucharest, his conflict with the reformers and his works.
Acharonim
Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim (c. 1696–1743): biography and works
The life of Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim: born in Salé, his journey to Livorno and Jerusalem, his Torah commentary and his burial.
Acharonim
Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (1749–1821): biography, Nefesh HaChaim and the Volozhin yeshiva
The life of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin: disciple of the Vilna Gaon, founder of the Volozhin yeshiva in 1803 and author of Nefesh HaChaim.
Acharonim
Rabbi Chaim Pinto HaGadol (1748–1845): biography and legacy in Mogador
The life of Rabbi Chaim Pinto HaGadol: born in Agadir, chief rabbi of Mogador (Essaouira), his fame as a wonder-worker and the hilula held every 26th of Elul.
Acharonim
The Chida, Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724–1806): biography and works
The life of the Chida, Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai: born in Jerusalem, emissary of the communities of the Land of Israel, author of Shem HaGedolim, Birkei Yosef and Maagal Tov.
Acharonim
Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk (1717–1787): biography and Noam Elimelech
The life of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk: disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, brother of Rabbi Zusha and author of the Noam Elimelech.
Acharonim
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740–1809): biography and Kedushat Levi
The life of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev: disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, author of Kedushat Levi and defender of the people of Israel.
Acharonim
The Alshich, Rabbi Moshe Alshich (c. 1508–1593): biography and Torat Moshe
The life of the Alshich, Rabbi Moshe Alshich of Safed: disciple of Rabbi Yosef Karo, teacher of Rabbi Chaim Vital, preacher and author of the commentary Torat Moshe.
Acharonim
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal (1707–1746): biography, works and legacy
The life of the Ramchal, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto: Padua, the controversy over his maggid, Amsterdam and Acre. Author of Mesillat Yesharim.
Acharonim
Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, the Ramak (1522–1570): biography, works and legacy
The life of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, the Ramak: master of Kabbalah in Safed, author of Pardes Rimonim and Tomer Devorah, and teacher of Rabbi Chaim Vital. With a timeline.
Acharonim
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810): biography, works and teachings
The life of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, his pilgrimage to Israel, Likutei Moharan, hitbodedut and Breslov.
Acharonim
Rabbi Shalom Shabazi (1619–c. 1720): the great poet of Yemen
The life of Rabbi Shalom Shabazi, the great poet of the Jews of Yemen: his poetic work in Hebrew, Aramaic and Judeo-Arabic, the Mawza exile and his grave in Taiz.
Acharonim
Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz (c. 1505–1584): biography and Lecha Dodi
The life of Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz: from Salonica to Safed, teacher of the Ramak, author of the hymn Lecha Dodi and protagonist of the night of Shavuot with Rabbi Yosef Karo.
Acharonim
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812): biography, the Tanya and the founding of Chabad
The life of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi: disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch, founder of Chabad, author of the Tanya, his imprisonment and his death.
Acharonim
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (1809–1883): biography and the mussar movement
The life of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, founder of the mussar movement: his education, the cholera epidemic of 1848, his method and his disciples.
Acharonim
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Arizal (c. 1534–1572): biography, teachings and legacy
The life of the Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria: his childhood in Egypt, his arrival in Safed, Rabbi Chaim Vital and Lurianic Kabbalah. With a timeline.
Acharonim
Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, the Ben Ish Chai (1835–1909): biography and works
The life of Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad, the Ben Ish Chai: teacher of the Sephardim of Iraq, his work arranged by Torah portion, and his Kabbalistic side.
Acharonim
Rabbi Yosef Karo (1488–1575): biography, Shulchan Aruch and Maggid Meisharim
The life of Rabbi Yosef Karo: from the expulsion from Spain to Safed, author of the Beit Yosef and the Shulchan Aruch, and of the mystical diary Maggid Meisharim. With a timeline.
Acharonim
The Rashash, Rabbi Shalom Sharabi (c. 1720–1777): biography and Lurianic Kabbalah
The life of the Rashash, Rabbi Shalom Sharabi: from Yemen to Jerusalem, head of the Beit El yeshiva and author of Nahar Shalom and of the Siddur HaKavanot.
Acharonim
The Rema, Rabbi Moshe Isserles (1530–1572): biography, the Mappah and legacy
The life of the Rema, Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Kraków: his yeshiva, the Mappah glosses on the Shulchan Aruch, the Torat HaOlah and the synagogue that bears his name.
Acharonim
The Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Eliyahu (1720–1797): biography, works and legacy
The life of the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Eliyahu: his prodigious childhood, his commentaries, his opposition to Hasidism and his disciples from Volozhin.
Acharonim
Rabbi Chaim Vital (1542–1620): the complete biography of the Arizal’s disciple
The life of Rabbi Chaim Vital, the Maharchu: his childhood in Safed, the Arizal, the Etz Chaim, Shaarei Kedusha and his last years in Damascus.
20th and 21st centuries contemporary era
20th and 21st centuries
Baba Sali, Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira (1889–1984): biography and legacy
The life of the Baba Sali, Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira: his origins in Morocco, his arrival in Israel and his life in Netivot. History and tradition.
20th and 21st centuries
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (1920–2013): biography, works and legacy
The life of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef: born in Baghdad, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, founder of Shas and author of Yabia Omer. His halachic approach and his legacy.