Biographical Dictionary of Rabbis

This dictionary is meant to be used as a quick reference to lookup the names of Rabbis, the time and place they lived, and the books they authored.

Titles of Books

Aruch Hashulchan

Rabbi Yechiel Michel Halevi Epstein (1829-1908). He was a community rabbi and a posek in Novardok, Lithuania.

Ben Ish Chai

Rabbi Yosef Chaim (1832 – 1909) was a leading Sephardic Rabbi, author of the Ben Ish Chai, and Rabbi of Baghdad.

Chatam Sofer

Rabbi Moshe Sofer (1762-1839), Born in germany, Rabbi in hungary.

Chayei Adam

Rabbi Avraham Danzig of Vilna (1748-1820). Author of the Chayei Adam dealing with the laws of Orach Chaim as well as the Chochmat Adam, dealing with the other areas of Shulchan Aruch that apply to daily life.

Chavot Daat

Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum of Lisa (1759-1832). Rav in Lissa, Poland. Author of the Chavot Daat on Yoreh Deah, the Netivot Hamishpat on Choshen Mishpat, the Torat Gittin on Even Haezer, and the Mekor Chaim and Derech Chaim on Orach Chaim. Grandson of the Chacham Tzvi.

Chida

Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai ben Isaac Zerachia (1724 – 1806) was a Jerusalem born Sephardic rabbinical scholar. He is the author of Machzik Bracha, Birkei Yosef, Shem HaGedolim and many other books.

Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886), Hungarian posek and rabbi in Ungvar.

Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rabbi Rafael Baruch Toledano

Rabbi Rafael Baruch Toledano (1890 - 1970) was the Rabbi of Meknes, Morocco and author of a compendium of Sephardic Halacha and Moroccan minhagim in a book titled Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.

Mishna Brurah

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838 – 1933), known popularly as The Chofetz Chaim, was an influential Lithuanian Rabbi, author of the Mishna Brurah.

Mishne Torah

Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, the Rambam (1135 - 1204). Born in Spain, was one of the foremost Jewish philosophers with his Moreh Nevuchim. He also wrote a commentary on the Mishnayot as well as a fourteen volume code of law, called Mishne Torah, sometimes referred to as Yad Hachazaka.

Pitchei Teshuva

Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Hirsch Eisenstadt (1813-1868), Rabbi in Utian, Russia.

S"A HaRav

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady (1745 – 1812), was the first Rebbe of Chabad and author of Shulchan Aruch HaRav and the Tanya.

Shaare Teshuva

Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Margaliot (Mid 18th century-1818). Polish Rabbi most famous for his commentary on the Shulchan Aruch called Shaare Teshuva.

Yalkut Yosef

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef (b. 1952), son of Rav Ovadia Yosef, is the author of Yalkut Yosef, which is a encyclopedic work of Sephardic halacha.

Names of Rabbis

Rabbi Akiva Eiger

Rabbi Akiva Eiger (1761-1837), author of tosfot rabbi akiva eiger on mishnayot, gilyon hashas on the side margin of the traditional gemara, chiddushei rabbi akiva eiger, and three volumes of teshuvot rabbi akiva eiger.

Rabbi Avraham Danzig

Rabbi Avraham Danzig of Vilna (1748-1820). Author of the Chayei Adam dealing with the laws of Orach Chaim as well as the Chochmat Adam, dealing with the other areas of Shulchan Aruch that apply to daily life.

Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Hirsch Eisenstadt

Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Hirsch Eisenstadt (1813-1868), Rabbi in Utian, Russia. Authored of Pitchei Teshuva on YD, CM, and EH as well as on the sefer, Gittin Ve’chalitza, and Nachalat Shiva on works of early Acharonim.

Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Margaliot

Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Margaliot(Mid 18th century-1818). Polish Rabbi most famous for his commentary on the Shulchan Aruch called Shaare Teshuva

Rabbi Chaim Yosef David

Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai ben Isaac Zerachia (1724 – 1806) was a Jerusalem born Sephardic rabbinical scholar. He is the author of Machzik Bracha, Birkei Yosef, Shem HaGedolim and many other books.

Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon

Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, the Rambam (1135 - 1204). Born in Spain, was one of the foremost Jewish philosophers with his Moreh Nevuchim. He also wrote a commentary on the Mishnayot as well as a fourteen volume code of law, called Mishne Torah, sometimes referred to as Yad Hachazaka.

Rabbi Moshe Sofer

Rabbi Moshe Sofer (1762-1839), Born in germany, Rabbi in hungary. Author of a commentary on torah, on the talmud and on the Shulchan Aruch as well as Teshuvot Chatam Sofer. Son in law of Rabbi Akiva Eiger and father of the ktav sofer.

Rabbi Rafael Baruch Toledano

Rabbi Rafael Baruch Toledano (1890 - 1970) was the Rabbi of Meknes, Morocco and author of a compendium of Sephardic Halacha and Moroccan minhagim in a book titled Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.

Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried

Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886), Hungarian posek and rabbi in Ungvar. Author of Kitzur Shulchan Aruch mostly on Orach Chaim as well as Lechem visimla on hilchot nidda.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liady (1745 – 1812), was the first Rebbe of Chabad and author of Shulchan Aruch HaRav and the Tanya.

Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum

Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum of Lisa (1759-1832). Rav in Lissa, Poland. Author of the Chavot Daat and the Netivot Hamishpat, commentaries of the Shulchan Aruch. Grandson of the Chacham Tzvi.

Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein

Rabbi Yechiel Michel Halevi Epstein (1829-1908). He was a community rabbi and a posek in Novardok, Lithuania, author of the Aruch Hashulchan.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838 – 1933), known popularly as The Chofetz Chaim, was an influential Lithuanian Rabbi, author of the Mishna Brurah.

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef (b. 1952), son of Rav Ovadia Yosef, is the author of Yalkut Yosef, which is a encyclopedic work of Sephardic halacha.

Rabbi Yosef Chaim

Rabbi Yosef Chaim (1832 – 1909) was a leading Sephardic Rabbi, author of the Ben Ish Chai, and Rabbi of Baghdad.