Great Rabbis of the Past and Present Posts

The definition of a friend can be explored through two perspectives from the Torah.  Rabbi Dov Schwartzman suggests that to understand the meaning of a word in the Torah, one should examine its first occurrence. He notes that the first mention…

There is a longstanding custom in Klal Yisrael to eat donuts on Chanukah, which dates back to the time of the Rambam’s father, Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef. Sefer Sarid Upalit (p. 8) cites his words: "One should not be lenient with any custom, even…

Rabbi Shmuel Rozovsky (1913–1979) was an extraordinary rabbi known as an expert Talmudic lecturer at the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Israel. He was counted amongst the great rabbis of his generation.  He was known worldwide for his cl…

Rav Moshe ben Yaakov Cordovero (1522–1570) was a central figure in the historical development of Kabbalah and the leader of a Kabbalistic school in 16th-century Safed, Ottoman Syria. He is known by the acronym the Ramak (רמ״ק). In the introdu…

Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz, known as The Mashgiach, was a renowned mashgiach ruchani and baal mussar at the prestigious Mir Yeshiva in Belarus. Born in 1873 (5633 in the Jewish calendar) in Lyuban, Minsk Voblast, Belarus, he showed early promise in his…

Rav Chaim of Volozhin (21 January 1749 – 14 June 1821), also known as "Reb Chaim Volozhiner" or "Reb Chaim," was born in Volozhin, a part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Reb Chaim and his elder brother Reb Simcha received educatio…

Rabbi Yaakov Chaim Sofer (1870-1939) was a distinguished Sephardic Rabbi, Kabbalist, Talmudist, and author of the renowned work Kaf Hakhaim on Halakha.  His magnum Opus, "Kaf Hachaim," spans ten volumes and is a significant work discussing Hal…

Early Life Rabbi Yeshaya Halevi Horowitz (also known as the Shelah HaKaddosh (השל" ה הקדוש‎ "the holy Shelah") was born in the well-known city of Prague in 1558.  His father, Rabbi Abraham bar Rabbi Shabse Sheftel Halevi, was a praised ge…

Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum, an esteemed halachic authority, served as a rabbi in Eastern Europe in Kalish, Lissa, and Stryi. He is known for works like Chavos Daas and Nesivos Hamishpat. He was the great-grandson of Chacham Tzvi. Highly regarded as a…

'"Bar Yochai'" (בַּר יוֹחַאי) is a profound kabbalistic piyyut that illuminates the spiritual achievements of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai, the revered author of the kabbalistic masterpiece, the Zohar.  Crafted in the 16th century by Rabbi Shimon Lavi, …

Rabbi Chaim Vital, a remarkable figure in Jewish history, was born around 1543 CE. His family's origins in Calabria, Italy, earned him the name Rabbi Chaim Vital Calabrese. He served as a rabbi in Tzfas and was the primary disciple of Rav Isaac Luri…

Rav Moshe ben Nachman (מֹשֶׁה בֶּן־נָחְמָן Mōše ben-Nāḥmān, "Moses son of Nachman"; 1194–1270), known as Nachmanides or Ramban, was born in Girona in 1194 and passed away in the Land of Israel around 1270. Descending from Rav Yitzchak ben Reuve…

Harav Yechiel Michel Epstein (the Arukh HaShulchan) 1829–1908Harav Yechiel Michel ha-Levi Epstein, renowned as "the Aruch haShulchan" for his monumental Torah literary contribution, Harav Yechiel Michel ha-Levi Epstein, famous as "the Aruch ha…

Renowned as the revered Gadol Hador and legendary Talmudic Scholar, Harav Shemaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky, also known as the Prince of Torah, was an outstanding Rabbi and Chief Posek. His titles, Gadol HaDor ("the greatest of his generation") and t…

Rav Avraham Kalmanowitz, an Orthodox Rabbi revered for his leadership, served as the esteemed Rosh Yeshiva of the Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York, from 1946 to 1964. Originating from the Russian Empire, his journey encompassed pivotal roles in var…

Rav Avraham Ben Meir Ibn Ezra, a towering figure among the Rishonim, is revered for his monumental Torah commentary. He is known as the progenitor of Dikduk, and his profound commentary is considered a timeless masterpiece, perpetually scrutinized a…

Harav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg ( חיים פנחס שיינברג) (October 1910 – 20 March 2012) was a distinguished Polish-born, American-raised, Israeli Charedi Rav and Rosh Yeshiva. Regarded as a Posek and Gadol HaDor, he epitomized the legacy of Torah s…

Meet Harav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, famously called "The Alter," a significant leader of Orthodox Judaism in Eastern Europe and an extraordinary Torah educator. He founded the renowned Slabodka yeshiva and had a powerful impact on his students, many of w…

Rav Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, well-known as the Sfas Emes, was an other-worldly Torah luminary. He was a Chasidic Rabbi and Av Beis Din. Born in 1847 (5608) as Yehudah Leib, affectionately known as Leybl in his youth, he faced early hardships after …

Rabbi Yisrael ben Ze'ev Wolf Lipkin, also known as "Rav Yisrael Salanter,"  was a famous Rosh yeshiva and expert Talmudist who founded the Mussar movement. The epithet Salanter was added to his name since most of his schooling took place in Sal…

Rabbi Twerski had an outstanding medical career, including founding and serving as the medical director emeritus of Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh. He also served as the clinical director of the Department of Psychiatry at St. Francis H…

Harav Sholom Mordechai Hakohen Schwadron, known as the "Maggid of Jerusalem," was a revered Charedi Rav and inspiring Torah speaker. With his fiery and inspirational mussar talks, he captivated audiences and earned the admiration of many. His teachi…

HaRav Matisyahu Salomon was born on November 28, 1937, and passed away on January 2, 2024; he was a master of Torah and Mussar. His wisdom and teachings touched the lives of thousands. Hatzolah responders rushed to his home on Tuesday night when he …

Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua Falk (1680 – 1756) was a Polish and German Rav and expert Talmudist known as the Pnei Yehoshua. He was named the Pnei Yehoshua for his magnum opus, his sefer of commentary and novellas on the Talmud, and Pnei Yehoshua rem…