Mystical Sages From 3713-5275 (47BCE-1515)
The Talmudic Era
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai, 3713-3833 (47 BCE-73
CE). He received from Hillel and Shammai and their courts. Rabbi Yochanan had
five main disciples: Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Yose HaKohen,
Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel and Rabbi Elazar ben Arach. He was also a student of
Rabbi Nechunia ben HaKana and was a teacher of Rabbi Akiva. Expert in Kabbala.
Rabbi Akiva apparently also studied under Rabbi Yochanan. See Pirkei Avot
2:8; Chagiga 14b, Tosefta 2; Sanhedrin 68a; Yerushalmi Sanhedrin
7:13 (41a). The manuscript versions of this text state, "I can take squashes and
pumpkins, and with the Sefer Yetzira, make them into beautiful
trees.
Rabbi Nechunia ben HaKana, Tanna of the
second half of 1st Century CE A disciple of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai.
Teacher of Rabbi Yishmael, Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol. Wrote the
Bahir; Sefer HaTemuna (together with Rabbi Yishmael).
Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol (author of Pirkei d'Rabbi
Eliezer) was one of the five main disciples of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya, (1st and 2nd
C Tanna) One of the five main disciples of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai.
Rabbi Akiva, c. 3810-c. 3895 (150 CE-35 CE) A very
important Tanna who received from Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol. Rabbi Akiva was
one of four Tannaitic sages who entered the Pardes. The others were Ben
Azzai (early 2nd Century CE), Ben Zoma - who was also a student of
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya - (2nd Century CE), and Elisha ben Avuya,
known as Acher (the Other), (first half of 2nd Century CE).
See the article, Four Who Entered Paradise. He was one of the Ten Martyrs killed by the Romans. According to some, Rabbi Akiva was the
redactor of the Sefer Yetzira.
Rabbi Yishmael, Tanna during the first and
second century. Died c. 3893 (133 CE) after the fall of Betar. Rabbi Yishmael
was one of the first of the Ten Martyrs killed by the Romans. Author of the
Heichalot - a mystical manual describing the ascent to higher worlds and the
means to achieve it. See M Kantor, Jewish Time Line Encyclopedia p.
287-8.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai ( Rashbi) (2nd
Century CE) and his circle. Author of the Zohar, Rabbi Shimon was one of
the main students of Rabbi Akiva. According to the Gemara, Shabbat 33b,
Rabbi Shimon and his son Rabbi Elazar hid in a cave to escape Roman persecution
in 3909 (149 CE). Buried at Meron in the Galilee, west of Safed
Rabbi Elazar (2nd and 3rd
Century CE) son of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Buried at Meron in the Galilee, west
of Safed.
The Gaonic Period: 6th-11th
Centuries.
Rabbi Amram Gaon, author of Siddur R. Amram.
Recognized as a gaon in Sura 858. Died c. 875 CE.Aharon Ben Shmuel HaNassi
of Baghdad (mid 9th Century CE). Brought teachings of Kabbala from
Iraq to Italy and Germany. Mentioned in Megilat Achima'atz (1054) and
later in the writings of R. Eliezer of Worms.Rabbi Saadia Gaon, b. 882 in
Egypt; d. 942 in Sura (Babylon). Author of Emunot v'De'ot; Commentary on
Sefer Yetzira. Was appointed Gaon of Sura in 928Rabbi Sherira Gaon
appointed Gaon of Pumbedita in 4728 (968 CE)
Rabbi Hai Gaon became Gaon of Pumbedita in 4757
(997 CE). Died 4798 (1038 CE).
Yehudah ben Barzilai, (1035-1105) Author of a
commentary on Sefer Yetzira.
The Rishonim
Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 4800-4865 (1040-1105 CE)
Better known as Rashi. Born in Troyes, France. Foremost commentator and
Talmudist. Also knew and practiced Kabbala, as is evident from his commentary to
Succah 45a et al.
Baalei Tosafot, sons-in-law and grandsons
of Rashi. The Baalei HaTosefot lived in France and Germany in the 12-13th
centuries CE. Rabbeinu Yaakov of Marvege, France wrote Responsa from Heaven
4963 (1203 CE).
Rabbi Avraham ben Yitzchak, (1110-1179) Av Beit
Din of Narbonne, author of Sefer HaEshkol. Student of Yehuda ben
Barzilai of Barcelona. Some identify him as the kabbalist Avraham ben Yitzchak
of Granada, reputedly the author of Brit Menuchah (see below).
Rabbi Avraham ben Yitzchak of Granada (Rimon),
Late 13th early 14th Century CE. He is thought to be the
author of Brit Menucha. He is one of the earliest kabbalists to quote the
Zohar; his citations, however, vary from the extant copies of the
Zohar. Some identify him with Rabbi Avraham ben Yitzchak of Narbonne;
Scholem disagrees (possibly because it contradicts his thesis that the author of
the Zohar is Moshe de Leon?).
Rabbi Avraham ben David, the Raavad (Rabad of
Posquieres, Provence) c. 4880-4958 (1120 -1198 CE). Son-in-law of Rabbi Avraham
ben Yitzchak.
Rabbi Yitzchak Sagi-Nahor (the Blind), c. 12th
C. CE. Son of Raavad (Rabad of Posquieres), grandson of Rabbi Avraham ben
Yitzchak.
Rabbi Yehudah ben Yakar, c. 4910 - c. 4985 (c.
1150 - c. 1225). Born in Provence, France; died in Spain. Disciple in Kabbala of
R. Yitzchak Sagi-Nahor. Colleague of R. Ezra and R. Azriel of Gerona. Had a
great influence on the Ramban.
Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid, c. 4910-4977 (c. 1150-1217
CE) of Regensburg. Author of Sefer Chasidim. He headed the movement of
Chasidei Ashkenaz. He learned Kabbala from his father, Rabbi Samuel ben
Klonymos.
Rabbi Elazar of Worms, c. 4920-4998 (c. 1160-1237
CE), also known as the Rokeach. Born in Speyer, Germany; died in Worms.
He was a student of Rabbi Yehudah HaChassid. Wrote a commentary on Sefer
Yetzira.
Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (Ramban), Born c.
4955 (1195 CE) in Gerona. Died 5030 (1270 CE) in Acco, Israel.
Rabbeinu Yona Gerondi, 4940-5023 (c. 1180-1263 CE)
Rabbi Menachem of Recanati,4983-5050 (1223-1290).
Wrote a mystical commentary on the Torah. He quotes frequently from Ramban.
Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderet (Rashba), c.
4995-5070 (1235-1310 CE). Born in Barcelona. Student of Rabbeinu Yonah of
Gerondi and Ramban.
Rabbi Asher ben David, 13th c. CE.
Grandson of Raavad. Studied under his uncle R. Yitzchak Sagi-Nahor. Wrote
Sefer HaYichud; Tikkun Yud Gimmel Middot.
Rabbi Ezra ben Shlomo of Gerona, born in the last
3rd of the 12 Century CE., died 4998 (1238 CE. 1245 according to
others). Not to be confused with Rabbi Azriel below. He was a student of
Yitzchak Sagi-Nahor. Wrote a commentary on Sefer Yetzira that is no
longer existant; wrote a commentary on Shir HaShirim. Wrote commentaries
and explanations of Aggadata. Had a great influence on Rabbeinu Bachya
and on Rabbi Yitzchak of Acco.
Rabbi Azriel of Gerona, c. 4920-c. 4998 (c.1160-
c. 1238) Student of Rabbi Yitzchak Sagi-Nahor. Wrote among others Shaar
HaSho'el, a commentary on Sefer Yetzira, a commentary to Talmudic
Aggadata, a commentary on the liturgy (mystical meditations), and Sod
HaKorban on the mystical meaning of the sacrifices.
Rabbi Avraham ben Yitzchak Gerondi, (mid 13th
Century CE) He studied under Rabbi Yitzchak Sagi-Nahor and was held in great
esteem by the Ramban.
Abraham Abulafia, 5000-5051 (1240- after 1291 CE)
and his school. A leading Kabbalist in Spain and Italy, R. Abulafia was one of
the chief proponents and innovators of "prophetic Kabbala." Rabbi Yehuda Chayat
and Rabbi Shlomo ben Aderet (the Rashba) vigorously opposed Rabbi Abraham. For
Rashba's controversy with him see Rashba, Responsa 458.
Moshe de Leon c. 5000-c. 5065 (c. 1240-c. 1305 CE)
in Leon near Castile. Distributed copies of manuscripts of the Zohar that
had come into his possession.
Rabbi Yaakov ben Sheshet of Gerondi, early 13th
century. He was a colleague of R. Ezra, R. Azriel and Ramban. Reputed to be the
author of the kabbalistic work Shaar HaShamayim.
Rabbi Yitzchak of Acco, 5010-5100 (1250-1340 CE).
Possibly a student of Ramban, after the latter came to the came to the
Holy Land.
Rabbi Yosef Gikatilia, 5008-c. 5070 (1248-c. 1310)
Born in Medinaceli, Castile and lived in Segovia for many years. During the
years between 1272-1274, he studied with Avraham Abulafia, who praised him as
his most successful student. Wrote Ginat Egoz; Shaarei Orah; Saarei Tzedek;
Shaar HaNikud. Was apparently friendly with Moshe de Leon in the 1280s.
Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher, c. 5025-c. 5100 (c.
1265 - c. 1340 CE). Disciple of Rashba. Author of a mystical commentary on the
Torah.
Shem Tov ibn Gaon, 5043-5100 (1283-c.1340 CE).
Disciple of the Rashba and the Raavad; studied Kabbala under R. Yitzchak ben
Todros. Spent some time in Safed, Israel. Author of kabbalistic works Kesser
Shem Tov (a super-commentary on the mystical sections of Ramban's commentary
on Torah), Badei HaAron, and Sefer HaPe'er among others.
Rabbi Shmuel Motot, 14th C. Wrote
Meshovev Netivot, an unpublished commentary on Sefer Yetzira.
Rabbi Avraham Zacuto, 5185- c. 5275 (1425- c. 1515
CE). Author of Sefer HaYuchasin. To return to the previous article in this series on the History of Kabbala, go to
Mystics from Creation to the Talmud
To continue on to the next article in this series on the History of Kabbala, go to
The Inquisition through the 19th Century
Visitor Comments: 1
Larry Leger, from Louisiana, 11/6/2007
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