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.
Sages of Israel
Kabbalists
Masters of Kabbalah and the Zohar.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.