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.
Sages of Israel · 11th–15th centuries
Rishonim
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.