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.
Sages of Israel
Commentators on the Torah and the Tanakh
Those who explained Scripture, from Rashi to our own day.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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
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
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
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.