If one were to inquire of a Talmudic scholar what constitutes classic “Gemara,” the odds are good that he would reply, “the dialogues of Abaye and Rava,” both of whom were Amoraim from “Bavel” (Babylonia). That is because back-and-forth question and answer, point and counter-point, progressive refinement of the subject matter, which almost always involves the meaning of a Torah Law, but on occasion branches into other areas, is the Talmudic path to Truth. Abaye “Little Father” was an orphan, and was raised by his uncle, Rabbah bar Nachmani, and his wife. He had enormous respect and affection for Rabbah, […]
Abrabanel was a remarkable figure combining within himself multiple talents including that of statesman, financier, Biblical Commentator, philosopher and protector of his people. He lived in the twilight years of the middle ages and his life and times reflected the transition between the middle ages and the modern period. Abrabanel was born in Lisbon where he received a wide ranging education. In 1571 King Alfonso of Portugal captured 250 Jews in North Africa who were to be sold into slavery. Under the leadership of Abrabanel a huge ransom was provided to secure their release. He served as treasurer to King […]
Brother of Moshe and Miriam; first “Kohen Gadol,” “High Priest” of Israel.
One of the greatest of the Tannaim, Scholars of the Mishnah, the earliest written form of the Oral Torah. He was the Spiritual Leader of the Bar Kochba Revolt and it was he who initially proclaimed Bar Kochba the Mashiach. He was a Master of Transformation and Growth, as we see from the fact that he began to study Torah at the age of forty, and went on to become one of the greatest Torah Scholars. The death of 24,000 of his students constitute the traditional reason for the sadness of the Sefira, and the cessation of the plague on […]
Rabbi Yosef Albo was a philosopher and theologian who was also a disciple of the great Rabbi Hasdai Crescas. He composed the “Sefer HaIkarim,” which provides a clear and comprehensive picture of the thought of his time. He carefully analyzed the meaning of “Ikar” and disputed his predecessors as to the number of ikarim. Albo was a participant at the famous Tortosa disputation in 1413-1414. In Chapter 25, Part III, there is a record of his critique of Christianity at the disputation (printed in Husik’s edition of the Ikarim) but this has been censored out of the Hebrew editions. He […]
Yehuda Solomon Alkalai was born in Sarajevo (Bosnia) in 1798. He spent his boyhood in Jerusalem studying with various rabbis and it was there that he came under the influence of the Kabbalah – Jewish mysticism. In 1825 he became Rabbi of Semlin (the capital of Serbia). At that time, the Serbs, as well as other nationalities which resided within the Balkan States, were greatly influenced by the Greek War for Independence and the prevailing atmosphere of rebellion against foreign Turkish rule. With this resurgence of national pride and desire for independence, the entire Balkan area became divided among differing […]
Born in Lita, Moshe Avigdor Amiel was first taught by his father at the Telz yeshiva before proceeding to the Vilna yeshiva to study under the two greatest Talmudic scholars of the time – Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik and Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky. He received his ordination at the age of eighteen and in 1905 was appointed Rabbi of Swieciany, where he founded a large yeshiva. In 1913, he became Rabbi of Grajewo located on the border between Russia and Germany. It was during this time that Rabbi Amiel was acknowledged as a great public preacher and his oratorical qualities were […]
The third in the traditional listing by CHAZAL of the group of Prophets known as the “Trei-Asar,” the “Twelve.” A herdsman from Tekoah in Yehudah (Amos 1:1) and declaring that he was neither a Prophet nor the son of a Prophet (Amos 7:14), Amos nevertheless scaled the greatest heights of Prophecy. For each of “Damesek” (Damascus), Capital of Aram, that destroyed the Kingdom of Israel and exiled the Ten Tribes, “Azah” (Gaza), Capital of the Land of the Philistines, that fought against the People of G-d almost throughout the Biblical Period and stole their Holy Ark, until it was retrieved […]
Author of “Akeidas Yitzchak,” one of the most unusual and influential commentaries on Chumash. Arama’s work mirrors the condition of Spanish Jewry immediately preceding the Expulsion, reflecting its philosophic and theological concerns as well as the Jews’ communal life and the immense pressures impinging upon them from the powers to be. Secular philosophy as well as Christian theology in the context of the persecutions of 1391 and their aftermath, were undermining and weakening their spiritual fortitude and conversion was a serious problem. In his introduction, Arama gives as one of the reasons for the name he chose that he felt […]
Asher was the eighth son of Yaakov Avinu, and the second son of Zilpah, the handmaiden of Leah. He was born, according to the Midrash “Yalkut Shimoni” on the 20th of Shevat, and lived 123 years. Upon his birth, Leah said, “…It is my good fortune! For women have called me fortunate! And she called his name ‘Asher.’ ” (Bereshit 30:13) The Prayer “Ashrei,” that begins “Ashrei Yoshevei Vaysecha” “Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house.” (Tehilim 84:1) reflects the meaning of the common “shoresh” or “root” of the word “fortunate” and the name “Asher.” The most famous of […]
The commentary on the Talmud authored by the Rosh, Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel, is found in the back of nearly every edition of the Babylonian Talmud. The popularity of his commentary reflect his clarity of thought and expression, and his halachic authority as the close disciple of the Maharam, Rabbi Meir of Rothenberg (1215-1293). The Maharam was the last of the German Baalei Tosafos. Thus, his student, Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel, assimilated and represented the Ashkenazic tradition of Torah learning. Because of the savage activities of the Crusaders, Rabbi Asher fled to Spain in 1306. His first stop was Barcelona, […]
First of the “Avot,” the “Founding Fathers” of the Jewish People. Father of the Jewish People in particular and, by the name change of Avram to Avraham declared by the Almighty to be the father, as well, of “a multitude of nations.” (Bereshit 17:4) He re-discovered Monotheism, the belief in only One G-d, one of, if not the fundamental concept of the Jewish Religion. This principle was known obviously by Adam, but forgotten by most of his descendants, who built their societies on the basis of idol worship, until Avraham. Avraham re-discovered Monotheism on his own, according to the Midrash […]
Rabbi Elazar resided in Safed at the time it was filled with a most incredible group of Halachists and mystics including R. Joseph Caro, R. Moshe Trani, R. Isaac Luria, R. Moshe Cordovaro, R. Moshe Alshich and R. David B. Zimra. According to Chida he was ordained by R. Yaakob Berab. Rabbi Elazar founded a chavura called Sukkat Shalom for whom he wrote his most famous work the Sefer Chareidim. The Chareidim is organized around the 613 mitzvot which he divides according to the limbs of the body based on the verse “all my limbs proclaim ‘G-d- who is compared […]
Rabbi Abraham, the great-grandfather of the illustrious Rabbi Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai, was born in Fez, Morocco. In the field of Kabballah he was greatly influenced by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, and was born in the same year that Rabbi Moshe died. While in Fez he wrote many works. However, when he moved to Eretz Israel, his works were lost. He wrote works on the Mishnah and a major work on Tanach, Baalei Bris Avraham. He wrote a number of works on Kabballah, including the popular Chesed L’Avraham and a three part commentary on the Zohar. The latter was based in […]
Chida was one of the most fascinating and multi-faceted figures in Jewish history. Born in Jerusalem he became a scholar of the first rank and wrote classic works in halacha such as Shaar Yosef, Birkei Yosef and Machzik Beracha. He was associated with the kabbalist R. Shalom Sharabi and studied under R. Chaim Ibn Attar. In 1753, at the age of 29, he traveled to Europe as an emissary of the communities of Eretz Yisrael and again in 1772 on behalf of Chevron. Each trip lasted in excess of 5 years. He completed his second trip in Leghorn, where he […]
