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Revered Rabbis, Kabbalists, Sages, Torah Scholars and Luminaries of Renown

Project Tags

Top Surnames

Eichenstein, Friedman, Hager, Halberstam and 16 others
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Profiles

  •
    Shimon Eleazar Mandel (1895 - 1942)
  • Rav Elio Toaff (1915 - 2015)
    Rabbin Elio Toaff Youtube Bio Elio Toaff (born 30 April 1915 in Livorno) is the former Chief Rabbi of Rome, serving from 1951 to 2002. In 1947 Toaff served as a rabbi in Venice and in 1951 he be...
  • Leone Aryeh Yehuda Moscato (c.1520 - d.)
  • Shimon Szymon Mateles (1792 - 1872)
    ha chussid, introduced chassidish to Krakow. Einikel++ of Tosfos Yomtov.
  • Yaakov Yitzhak Mandel (1827 - 1916)
    source: Descendants of Jacob-Izaak MandelPossibly married at 13 (family mesora that his friends asked him whose tallis it was)

Transmission of Torah Scholarship

Tracing the transmission of Torah Scholarship via Rabbinic Sages and Luminaries of Renown, from the Zugot (170BCE to 10CE) and Tannaim (30BCE to 200CE) to the Achronim (1500 - Present). ie. From Yosei ben Yoezer to Adin Steinsalz.

  • Nessi'im (Presidents) of The Sanhedrin (170BCE to 425CE) are also listed.
  • 'Women Torah Scholars & Spiritual Guides' plus
  • Surprising Prominent Personalities descending from eminent Rabbinical Families"

Please feel free to add to, and/or edit this ad hoc list of illustrious Talmudical scholars.
The aim of this project is to be repository of information and ideas from which to create new projects, and to help Geni members find a link with which to attach to the Rabbinical Branch of Geni's One World Tree.

Project Timeline

Sanhedrin Presidents, (170BCE to 425CE) נשיאי הסנהדרין

Presidents & Zugot - Maccabean period - נשיאים וזוגות בתקופת מלכי בית חשמונאי

Zugot - זוגות

In Hebrew, the word "zugot" indicates a plural of two identical objects. (In English: "pairs".) The name was given to the two leading teachers of the Law during each successive generation during the period. According to tradition, two of them always stood at the head of the Sanhedrin; one as president ("nasi") and the other as vice-president or father of the court ("Av beit din").

The term "Zugot" refers to 5 pairs of legal scholars who ruled the Supreme Court Beit Din HaGadol, when the 2nd Judean State was established as an independent state, to the end of Hillel the Elder's rule. Afterwards the positions Chief Justice Nasi and Vice President Av Beit Din remained, but they were not Zugot.

Presidents - נשיאים

Some discrepancies exist regarding both the order and the duration of the terms of some Nessi'im, especially the later ones!

Sources: Jewish Encyclopedia, Wikipedia and סנהדרין

Destruction of the Temple - חורבן ירושלים ובית המקדש

Intermission during Bar Kokhba Rebellion - (120-140CE) - הפסקה במהלך מרד בר-כוכבא

Sanhedrin made illegal - ביטול הסנהדרין ע"י הרומאים

The Mishnaic Age - The Tannaim, (70BCE - 200CE) - התנאים

The Talmudic Age - The Amoraim, (200 - 500CE) - האמוראים

The Age of Scholarship - The Geonim, (500 - 1000) - הגאונים

Rishonim, (1000 - 1500) - ראשונים

Achronim, (1500 - 1900) - אחרונים

(1500 - 1700)

(1700 - 1800)

(1800 - 1900's)

Eminent Twentieth Century Gedolim 1900 - present - גדולי התורה במאה ה-20 ועד היום.

Rabbis: Pre-Mishnaic (Zugot)

  • Avtalyon, rabbinic sage in the early pre-Mishnaic era. A convert to Judaism.
  • Ben Sira, 2nd century BCE, Egypt, ethics and wisdom teacher - Apocryphal
  • Eliezer ben Jose/Yosey ha-Galili (?-c.160), famous for Baraita of Thirty-Two mitzvoth. The father of Rabbi Hananiah. See the fifth chapter of Hulin, and Moed Katan 28.
  • Shemaya, rabbinic sage in the early pre-Mishnaic era. A convert to Judaism.
  • Shimon ben Shetach, (c.120-40 BCE) was a Pharisee scholar and Nasi of the Sanhedrin

Rabbis: Mishnaic (Tannaim)

  • Akiva, 1st century Judea, central scholar in Mishnah
  • Hillel the Elder, 1st century BCE, in Judea, considered the greatest sage of the Second Temple period.
  • Judah haNasi, 2nd century, Judah the Prince, in Judea, redactor (editor) of the Mishnah
  • Shammai, 1st century BCE, in Judea, key scholar in Mishnah
  • Shimon bar Yochai, 1st century mystic, reputed author of the Zohar
  • Yohanan ben Zakkai, 1st century sage in Judea, key to the development of the Mishnah

Rabbis: Talmudic (Amoraim)

  • Abaye, 3rd century Talmudist
  • Abba Arika, known as Rav, last Tanna, first Amora. Moved from Israel to Babylon, 3rd century.
  • Abbahu, 4th century Talmudist
  • Eleazar Kalir, early Talmudic liturgist and poet
  • Hamnuna - Several rabbis in the Talmud had this name.
  • Hillel, son of Gamaliel III, 3rd century, in Judea, grandson of Judah ha-Nasi, and younger brother of Judah Nesiah
  • Hillel II, 4th century creator of the Hebrew calendar, in Judea, son of Judah Nesiah, grandson of Gamaliel IV
  • Judah II, 3rd century sage, sometimes called Judah Nesi'ah and Rebbi like his grandfather
  • Judah III, 4th century scholar, son of Gamaliel IV, and grandson of Judah II
  • Rabbah bar Nahmani
  • Rav Ashi, 5th century Babylonian Talmudic sage - primary redactor of the Babylonian Talmud
  • Rav Nachman
  • Rav Papa
  • Rav Yosef
  • Rava, important Amora
  • Ravina, primary aide to Rav Ashi in the redaction of the Babylonian Talmud
  • Resh Lakish
  • Shmuel (Talmud), rabbi of Nehardea, physician
  • Yochanan, primary author of the Jerusalem Talmud
  • Rav Jonah

Rabbis: Middle Ages - Geonim and Rishonim.

  • Abba Mari, (Minhat Kenaot), 13th century French Talmudist
  • Don Isaac Abravanel, (Abarbanel), 15th century philosopher and Torah commentator
  • Jacob Berab, 15th-16th century proponent of Semichah (Ordination)
  • Abraham ibn Daud, (Sefer HaKabbalah), 12th century Spanish philosopher
  • Obadiah ben Abraham of Bertinoro, (Bartenura) 15th century commentator on the Mishnah
  • Abraham ben David of Posquières, 1100s, France.
  • Abraham ibn Ezra, (Even Ezra), 12th century Spanish-North African Biblical commentator
  • Amram Gaon, 9th century organizer of the siddur
  • Asher ben Jehiel, (Rosh), 13th century German-Spanish Talmudist
  • Bahya ibn Paquda, (Hovot ha-Levavot), 11th century Spanish philosopher and moralist
  • Chananel Ben Chushiel (Rabbeinu Chananel), 10th century Tunisian Talmudist
  • Dunash ben Labrat, 10th century grammarian and poet
  • Eliezer ben Nathan, 12th century poet and pietist
  • Hasdai Crescas, (Or Hashem), 14th century Talmudist and philosopher
  • Rabbenu Gershom, 11th century German Talmudist and legalist
  • Gersonides, Levi ben Gershom, (Ralbag), 14th century French Talmudist and philosopher
  • Hillel ben Eliakim, (Rabbeinu Hillel), 12th century Talmudist and disciple of Rashi
  • Ibn Tibbon, a family of 12th and 13th century Spanish and French scholars, tranlators, and leaders
  • Isaac Alfasi, (the Rif), 12th century North African and Spanish Talmudist and Halakhist; author of "Sefer Ha-halachot".
  • Jacob ben Asher, (Baal ha-Turim ; Arbaah Turim), 14th century German-Spanish Halakhist
  • Joseph Albo, (Sefer Ikkarim), 15th century Spain
  • Joseph ibn Migash 12th century Spanish Talmudist and Rosh Yeshiva; teacher of Maimon, father of Maimonides
  • Maimonides, Moshe Ben Maimon, (Rambam), 13th century Spanish-North African Talmudist, philosopher, and law codifier
  • Mordecai ben Hillel, (The Mordechai), 13th century German Halakhist
  • Nahmanides, Moshe ben Nahman, (Ramban), 13th century Spanish and Holy Land mystic and Talmudist
  • Nissim Ben Jacob (Rav Nissim Gaon) 10th century Tunisian Talmudist
  • Nissim of Gerona, (RaN), 14th century Halakhist and Talmudist
  • Rashi, (Solomon ben Yitzchak), 11th century Talmudist, the primary commentator of Talmud
  • Elazar Rokeach, (Sefer HaRokeach) 12th century German rabbinic scholar
  • Saadia Gaon, (Emunoth ve-Deoth ; Siddur) 10th century Exilarch and leader of Babylonian Jewry
  • Samuel ben Judah ibn Tibbon, 12th-13th century French Maimonidean philosopher and translator
  • Tosafists, (Tosfot) 11th, 12th and 13th century Talmudic scholars in France and Germany
  • Judah HaLevi יהודה הלוי (Kuzari), 12th century Spanish philosopher and poet devoted to Zion

Rabbis: 16th - 18th centuries - Acharonim.

  • Isaac Abendana, 17th century Sephardic scholar in England
  • Jacob Abendana, 17th century Sephardic rabbi in England
  • Isaac Aboab da Fonseca, 17th century Dutch scholar and Kabbalist, first Rabbi in the Americas
  • Bezalel Ashkenazi, ( Shittah Mekubetzet), 16th century Talmudist
  • Yair Bacharach, (Havvot Yair), 17th century German Talmudist
  • Moses ben Jacob Cordovero (RaMaK) 16th century Holy Land Kabbalistic scholar
  • Hillel ben Naphtali Zevi, (Bet Hillel), 17th century Lithuanian scholar
  • Samuel Edels, (Mahrsha), 16th century Talmudist
  • Kalonymus Haberkasten 16th century Polish rabbi; Rosh Yeshiva of many great Rishonim
  • David HaLevi Segal,(Taz)16th century Halakhist, major commentatry on the Shulchan Aruch
  • Isaiah Horowitz (Shlah) 16th century Kabbalist and Author - Eastern Europe and Israel
  • Moshe Isserles, (Rema), 16th century Polish legal scholar, author of Ha-mappah (component of the Shulchan Aruch)
  • Yosef Karo, (Mechaber), 16th century Spanish and Land of Israel legal codifier of the Shulchan Aruch - code of Torah Law
  • Meir of Lublin, (Maharam), 16th century Posek and Talmudist
  • Isaac Luria, (Ari), 16th century Holy Land mystic, founder of Lurianic Kabbalah
  • Solomon Luria, (Maharshal), 16th century Posek and Talmudist
  • Menasseh Ben Israel, 17th century Dutch rabbi and advocate of resettlement in England
  • Shimshon Wertheimer, - Chief Rabbi and Shtadlan; widely recognized as the Gadol Hador in the late 1600's and early 1700's
  • Shalom Shachna, 16th century Polish Talmudist; Rosh Yeshiva of several great Rishonim
  • Judah Low ben Bezalel, (Maharal), 16th century Prague mystic and Talmudist
  • Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno, (Sforno), 16th century Italian scholar and rationalist
  • Sforno, 15th, 16th, and 17th century family of Italian Torah scholars and philosophers
  • Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz, 16th-17th century Torah commentator
  • Herschel ben Avram, 16th century Torah and Talmud commentator
  • Hayyim ben Joseph Vital, 16th Kabbalist
  • Mordekhai Yaffe ("Levush") , 16th-17th century Polish rabbi, codifier of halakha
  • Menahen Ben Elhanan Rizzolo ("Levush") , 16th-17th century French rabbi, manuscript of Rizzolo containing halakic decisions

Rabbis: 18th century

  • Chaim Joseph David Azulai (Hida), Sephardi rabbi and bibliographer
  • Raphael Berdugo, rabbi in Meknes
  • Haim Isaac Carigal, rabbi in Newport, Rhode Island in 1773 who became great influence on Reverend Ezra Stiles, and therefore on Yale University
  • Dovber of Mezritch, (Maggid), 18th century Eastern European mystic, primary disciple of the Baal Shem Tov
  • Elijah ben Solomon (the Vilna Gaon or Gra), 18th century Talmudist and mystic, Lithuanian leader of the Mitnagdim, opponent of Hasidim
  • Jacob Emden, 18th century German Talmudist and mystic
  • Israel ben Eliezer, (Baal Shem Tov), 18th century mystic, founder of Hasidic Judaism
  • Aaron Hart, Chief rabbi of Great Britain
  • David Hassine, Moroccan Jewish poet
  • Yechezkel Landau, (Noda Bihudah), 18th century Posek and Talmudist
  • Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, (Ramchal), 18th century Italian ethicist, philosopher, and mystic.
  • Hart Lyon, Chief rabbi of Great Britain
  • David Nieto, English rabbi
  • Isaac Nieto, English rabbi
  • Shneur Zalman of Liadi, (Alter Rebbe of Chabad), 18th century mystic and Talmudist, founder of Chabad Hasidism and first Chabad Rebbe
  • Akiva Eiger, 18th century Talmudist, and communal leader
  • Elimelech of Lizhensk, (Noam Elimelech) 18th century Polish mystic and Hasid
  • Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, (Kedushas Leivi) 18th century Polish Hassidic Leader
  • Shalom Sharabi, Yemenite rabbi and Kabbalist
  • Yisrael Hopstein, Maggid of Kozienice

Orthodox rabbis: 19th century

  • Dr Nathan Marcus Adler, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire
  • Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter Sfas Emes Gerrer Rebbe
  • Benjamin Artom, Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews
  • Joshua Berdugo 19th century Rabbi in Meknes
  • Salomon Berdugo 19th century Rabbi in Meknes
  • Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, (Netziv ; Ha'emek Davar) 19th century head of Volozhin yeshiva in Lithuania
  • Avrohom Bornsztajn Avnei Neizer Sochatshover Rebbe
  • Zvi Hirsch Chajes (Maharatz Chayes) Galician talmudic scholar
  • Chacham Yoseph Chaim - Ben Ish Chai - בן-איש-חי, Iraqi halakhist and preacher
  • Yehoshua Leib Diskin, Rabbi in Shklov, Brisk and Jerusalem
  • Yechiel Michel Epstein, (Aruch ha-Shulchan) 19th-20th century halakhist and posek (decisor)
  • Jacob Ettlinger, 19th century German scholar and opponent of Reform
  • Jacob of Lissa Galician Halakhist
  • Azriel Hildesheimer, 19th century German rabbi and philosopher
  • Samson Raphael Hirsch, 19th century German rabbi, founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz movement
  • Solomon Herschell, 19th century British Chief rabbi
  • Chaim Zundl Maccoby, the Kamenitzer Magid
  • Malbim, Meir Lob ben Jehiel Michael, (The Malbim), 19th century Russian preacher and scholar
  • Raphael Meldola, Sephardic rabbi in London
  • Frederick de Sola Mendes, Sephardic rabbi in London and America
  • Nachman of Breslav, (Reb Nachman), 19th century Ukrainian Hasidic rebbe and mystic
  • Yisrael Lipkin Salanter, 19th century Lithuanian ethicist and moralist
  • Dovber Schneuri, 19th century Russian second Rebbe of Chabad
  • Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, Admor Hatzemach Tzedek מנחם מנדל שניאורסון, הצמח צדק, 19th century Russian third Rebbe of Lubavitch
  • Shmuel Schneerson 4th CHABAD Rebbe MaHaRash שמואל שניאורסון מהר"ש, 19th century Russian fourth Rebbe of Lubavitch
  • Yaakov Chaim Sofer, Baghdadi rabbi, author of Kaf ha-Chaim
  • Moses Sofer, (Chatam Sofer) 19th century Hungarian rabbi
  • Chaim Soloveitchik ("Brisker Rov" 19th century Eastern European rabbi
  • Yehuda Hirsh Brandwein of Stretin
  • Yeshayahu Muszkat, Rabbi of the Praga District of Warsaw

Orthodox rabbis & Leaders : 20th century

  • Yehezkel Abramsky, author of Chazon Yehezkel
  • Yisrael Abuhatzeira, 20th century Kabbalist
  • Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, (Michtav Me'Eliyahu) 20th century religious philosopher and ethicist
  • Baruch Epstein, (Torah Temimah), 20th century Lithuanian Torah commentator
  • Moshe Mordechai Epstein, ( Levush Mordechai), 20th century Talmudist and co-head of Slabodka Yehiva
  • Moshe Feinstein, (Igrot Moshe), 20th century Russian-American legal scholar and Talmudist
  • Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, (Kerem HaTzvi), 20th century author, leader and renowned scholar
  • Nosson Tzvi Finkel, (Alter / Sabba), early 20th century founder of Slabodka Yeshiva, Lithuania. Disciples opened major yeshivas in US and Israel
  • Rogatchover Gaon (Rav Yosef Rosen), Talmudist and Hasidic leader
  • Boruch Greenfeld, (Reb Boruch Hermenshtater), 20th century Hasidic mystic and scholar, author of Ohel Boruch
  • Yitzchok Hutner, (Pachad Yitzchok), 20th century European-born, American and Israeli Rosh Yeshiva
  • Rabbeinu Yisrael Meir Hakohen Kagan - The Chafetz Chaim, 20th century Polish legalist and moralist
  • Aryeh Kaplan, (Living Torah) 20th century writer and mystic
  • Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz, (Chazon Ish) 20th century Haredi leader in Israel
  • Aharon Kotler, 20th century Lithuanian scholar, founder of Lakewood Yeshiva in US
  • Chaim Kreiswirth, long-time Chief Rabbi of Antwerp (Belgium)
  • Isser Zalman Meltzer, renowned Lithuanian Rosh Yeshiva
  • Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, (Mr. Mendlowitz) 20th century European-born head of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in the US
  • Shulem Moshkovitz, Hasidic rebbe in London
  • Chanoch Dov Padwa, (Cheishev Ho'ephod), rabbinical head of UOHC, London
  • Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, 20th century Russian fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch
  • Joseph Isaac Schneersohn, 20th century sixth Rebbe of Lubavitch
  • Menachem Mendel Schneerson, (Lubavitcher Rebbe), 20th century Hasidic mystic and scholar, seventh Chabad Rebbe
  • Joseph ben Yehuda Leib Shapotshnick, 20th century British rabbi
  • Shimon Shkop, famed Rosh Yeshiva in Telz and Grodno
  • Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, (Ohr Sameiach ; Meshech Chochmah) Lithuanian-Latvian Talmudist and communal leader
  • Joel Teitelbaum, (Satmar Rebbe), 20th century Hasidic Hungarian-American rebbe known for anti-Zionism
  • Chaim Michael Dov Weissmandl, (Min HaMeitzar) 20th century European scholar involved in rescue efforts during the Holocaust
*Henry Hoschander, Internationally acclaimed Rabbi and speaker; leader of Toronto Jewish Community during latter quarter of 20th century

להבדיל

Modern and Zionist Rabbis and Leaders

  • Rev. Dr. Herman Adler, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire
  • Meir Berlin, (Bar Ilan) 20th century religious Zionist leader
  • Sir Israel Brodie, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth
  • Isidore Epstein, Principal of Jews' College, London
  • Moses Gaster, Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews of Britain
  • Sir Hermann Gollancz, British rabbi and professor
  • Meir Kahane, (Never Again) 20th century founder of the American Jewish Defense League and the Israeli Kach party
  • Rabbi Dr Joseph Herman Hertz, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire
  • Shmuel Yitzchak Hillman, British rabbi and dayan
  • Moses Hyamson, British rabbi
  • Henry Hoschander, Internationally acclaimed Rabbi and speaker; leader of Toronto Jewish Community during latter quarter of 20th century
  • Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, Israeli leader of Kahane Chai party
  • Abraham Isaac Kook, 20th century philosopher and mystic, first chief rabbi of Palestine
  • Chief Rabbi Lord Immanuel Jakobovits, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, medical ethicist
  • Chalom Messas, chief Rabbi of Morocco and Jerusalem
  • David Messas, chief Rabbi of Paris.
  • Lord Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth
  • David Silverman, Outreach Rabbi with the Atlanta Scholars Kollel
  • Simeon Singer, editor of the United Synagogue prayer book
  • Joseph Soloveitchik, 20th century European-born Talmudist and philosopher
  • Selig Starr, Chicago Rabbi

Contemporary - Haredi rabbis

  • Gerrer Rebbes, (Gerrer), Polish Hasidic dynasty now in Israel, followers also in the US and UK
  • Vizhnitzer Rebbes, (Vizhnitzer), Romanian dynasty of Hasidic rebbes in Israel and the US
  • Shlomo Amar, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel
  • Avrohom Blumenkrantz z'l, posek and kashrut authority
  • Meir Brandsdorfer, member of the Badatz (rabbinical court) of the Edah HaChareidis
  • Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Israeli rabbi and de facto rabbinical leader of the chareidi world
  • Moshe Gafni, member of Israeli parliament
  • Menachem Genack, OU
  • Yitzchak Kadouri, leading 20th century Kabbalist (deceased)
  • Yaakov Kamenetsky, rabbinical leader and educationalist
  • Nissim Karelitz, respected Israeli chareidi leader
  • Israel Kirzner, economist and authority on writings of Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner
  • Yona Metzger, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
  • Israel Meir Lau, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel and current Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv
  • Moshe Chaim Ephraim Padwa, rabbinical head of the UOHC, London
  • Yissachar Dov Rokeach (II), Belzer Rebbe
  • Moshe Sacks, Satmar posek.
  • Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, dean of Torah Ohr Yeshiva, Jerusalem
  • Adin Steinsaltz Even Yisrael, 21st century Israeli Talmud scholar and philosopher
  • Moshe Teitelbaum, Satmar Rebbe (deceased)
  • Avraham Yitzchak Ulman, member of the Badatz (rabbinical court) of the Edah HaChareidis
  • Ovadia Yosef, 21st century Iraqi-Israeli former Israel Sephardic Chief Rabbi, legal scholar, "de facto" leader of Sephardic Jewry
  • Amnon Yitzhak, leading 'baal teshuva Rabbi' in Israel
  • Avigdor Nevenzahl, Chief Rabbi of the old city of Jerusalem
  • Rabbis List

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Surprising Prominent and Historic Personalities, Descending from Rabbinical Families'

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