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(acronym of the name Rabbi Avraham Av Beit Din).

(acronym of the name of R. Menachem Azaryah deFano) 5308-5380 (1548-1620 CE). Very important kabbalist in Italy. Student of Rabbi Yisrael Sarug and Mordechai Dato.

acronym of the name R. Moshe Cordovero.

acronym of the name R. Moshe ben Maimon, also called "Maimonides"; 4895-4964 (1135-1204 CE). Physician and Torah scholar originally from Cordoba, Spain, but who fled from persecution to north Africa, passing through Morocco and eventually settling in Egypt. Known for his works of Jewish law and philosophy works, Mishna Torah and Guide to the Perplexed, he also commanded kabbala, though he did not overtly present this knowledge in his works.

acronym of the name R. Moshe ben Nachman,"Nachmanides". Torah scholar and kabbalist originally from Gerona, Spain, author of one of the first and the most important mystical commentaries upon the Torah. At the end of his life he moved to the Holy Land and greatly strengthened the Jewish community in Jerusalem. He is buried in Acco.

acronym of the name of R. Moshe Zacuto. Born around 5380 (1620 CE) in Amsterdam; d. 5457 (1697 CE) studied in Amsterdam, Holland, Poland and Lithuania. Rabbi in Venice and Mantua, Italy where he died. Studied for two years under a student of the Ari zal, Rabbi Binyamin haLevi who came as an emissary from Safed. Wrote Kol HaReMez.

acronym of the name of R. Moshe Chaim Luzatto b. in Padua 5467 (1707 CE) d. in Acco, Israel 5506 (1746 CE). See Moshe Chaim Luzatto.

Kabbalah work by R. Natan Nota Shapiro.

acronym of the name R. Shlomo ben Aderet, c. 4995-5070 (1235-1310 CE). Born in Barcelona. Student of Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerondi and Ramban.

acronym of the name of R. Shimon bar Yochai (2nd Century CE) and his circle. Rabbi Shimon was one of the main students of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Shimon and his son Rabbi Elazar hid in a cave to escape Roman persecution in 3909 (149 CE). Author of the Zohar, buried at Meron, west of Safed.

acronym of Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki 4800-4865 (1040-1105 CE), born in Troyes, France. Foremost commentator and Talmudist. Also knew and practiced Kabbala as is evident from his commentary to Sukka 45a; Sanhedrin 65b, etc.

4059-4113 (299-353 CE) According to Rashi's commentary on Talmud tractate Sanhedrin 65b, Rava created a golem using the mysteries of Sefer Yetzira and sent it to Rav Zeira, who nullified the golem and returned it to dust.

a contemporary of Rava nullified the golem sent to him by Rava (cf. Rava) and returned it to dust.

kabbalistic ethical treatise by R. Eliyahu daVidas

major work (and play on the acronym of his name) of R. Moshe Zacuto, the Ramaz. "Remez" in Hebrew means 'hint'.

Kabbalah work of R.Yaakov of Marvege, France.

work of Elazar of Worms c. 4920-4998 (c. 1160-1237 CE), also known as the Rokeach. (Born in Speyer, Germany; died in Worms).

b. 4642 (882 CE) in Egypt; d. 4702 (942 CE) in Sura (Babylon). Author of Emunot v'De'ot; Commentary on Sefer Yetzira. Was appointed Gaon of Sura in 4688 (928 CE).

2830-2882 (931-878 BCE) received from Eli and his court.

variant name of SeferHaBahir, Kabbalah work written by Nechunia ben HaKana ben Zakai.

a kabbalistic treatise by R. Eliezer Azkiri.

Kabbalah work attributed to R.Yehuda HaChassid of Regensburg.

Kabbalah work written by Nechunia ben HaKana ben Zakai.

Kabbalah work by R. Moshe Cordovero.

Kabbalah work of Avraham ben Yitzchak of Narbonne.

Kabbalah work by Shem Tov ibn Gaon.

Kabbalah work written by Nechunia ben HaKana (together with Rabbi Yishmael).

Kabbalah work of R. Asher ben David.

Kabbalah work attributed to Avraham Avinu (Abraham the Patriarch) which, according to some, was finally redacted by Rabbi Akiva.

Kabbalah work by R. Avraham Zacuto.

Kabbalah work by Yosef Gikatila.

Kabbalah work on the 10 sefirot by Todros Abulafia

Kabbalah work attributed to R. Yaakov ben Sheshet of Gerona.

Kabbalah work of Azriel of Gerona.

Kabbalah work by Yosef Gikatila

Kabbalah work by Yosef Gikatila

(c. 1561-1619). Author of Shefa Tal.

5460-5540 (c. 1700-1780 CE). Born in Marakesh, Morocco. Student of R. Avraham Azulai, Yaakov Pinto; Yeshayahu HaKohen. Later lived in London. Author of Mikdash Melech on Zohar.

(Rashash) 5480-5537 (1720-1777 CE). (1780-1837??) Born in Yemen. Later lived in Israel and became head of Yeshivat Bet E-l.

early Talmudic scholar, known for strictness of his decisions. Hillel and Shammai and their court received from Shmaya and Avtalyon and their court, and began the Talmudic era.

a kabbalistic work of Rabbi Sheftel Horowitz.

(Shabtai Sheftel), 5321-5379 (c. 1561-1619 CE). Author of Shefa Tal.

(Shenei Luchot HaBrit), work of commentary and halacha by noted kabbalist, R. Yeshayahu Horowitz, b. 5320 (1560 CE) in Prague; d. 5390 (1630 CE) in Jerusalem.

5043-5100 (1283-c. 1340 CE). Disciple of Rashba and 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; Sefer HaPe'er among others.

d. 5190 (1430 CE). A leading Spanish kabbalist. He fought vigorously against philosophy. He wrote several works in kabbala, only fragments of which are still extant.

appointed Gaon of Pumbedita in 4728 (968 CE)

(Rashbi) (2nd Century CE) and his circle. Rabbi Shimon was one of the main students of Rabbi Akiva. According the Talmud tractate Shabbat 33b, Rabbi Shimon and his son Rabbi Elazar hid in a cave to escape Roman persecution in 3909 (149 CE). Author of the Zohar, buried in Meron, west of Safed.

b. 5248-5348 (1488-1588 CE). Born in Spain and fled to Morocco to escape the Inquisition. On his way to Israel, he stopped of in Tripoli N. Africa. When he saw how ignorant of Torah the people there were he decided to stay and teach them. He is the author of Ketem Paz, an important commentary on the Zohar.

left Spain as a child during the expulsion in 1492. His family settled in North Africa, where he grew up to be a renowned scholar and Kabbalist. He set out for Israel in 1549, but when he stopped in Tripoli along the way and saw the ignorance and lack of Torah observance among the Jews who lived there, he decided to remain in order to teach, which he did with great success. Today, he is best known as the composer of the popular Bar Yochai hymn sung on Lag B’Omer, and by many Jews on Shabbat too.

a noted kabbalist and the author of a number of esoteric commentaries. He was martyred during the Cossacks' Uprising on July 15, 1648. 

c. 5260-5340 (c. 1500-1580 CE). Author of the mystical hymn Lecha Dodi, composed in Safed at the time of the Lurianic influence.

(Rashba) c. 4995-5070 (1235-1310 CE). Born in Barcelona Student of Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerondi and Ramban.

5601-5684 (1841-1924 CE). Author of Leshem Shevo V'Achlama.Major exponent of Lithuanian Kabbalah of his day. Also known as Rav Shlomo of Shavel. Immigrated to Israel with the help of Rav A.Y. Kook in 1922.

5310-5379 (1550-1619 CE) Poland; author of Kli Yakar a commentary on the Torah.

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; Sanhedrin 65b, etc.

Kabbalah work of Azriel of Gerona on the mystical meaning of the sacrifices.

14th C. CE. Wrote Meshovev Netivot an unpublished commentary on Sefer Yetzira.

b. ca. 5300 (1540 CE) in Safed. He was one of the disciples of the Ari zal. He is famous as the author of Midrash Shmuel, a commentary on Pirkei Avot.

son of R. Chaim Vital. Lived in the 17th C. CE. He was born in Damascus and studied Kabbala under his father. When Rabbi Chaim Vital passed away, he inherited many of his father's manuscripts in the kabbalistic teachings of the Ari zal. He arranged these in eight categories, known as the Shmoneh Shaarim. He also wrote several kabbalistic works of his own. Rabbi Shmuel had many important students, among them Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach; Rabbi Meir Poppers. Towards the end of his life he moved to Egypt, and died in Cairo.

(Shenei Luchot HaBrit), work of commentary and halacha by a noted kabbalist, R. Yeshayahu Horowitz.

5505-5573 (1745-1813 CE), the "Alter Rebbe" of the Lubavitch dynasty. Author of Tanya, an early Chassidic text and the Shulchan Aruch haRav, an extended work on halacha.

(Code of the Jewish Law), compilation of halacha by R. Yosef Karo, completed 5335.

2912-2964 (849-797 BCE) Son of David, king of Israel. Built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

a comprehensive commentary on the entire Zohar, by R. Yehudah Ashlag.

a kabbalistic treatise by the Maharal of Prague.

Kabbalah work of R. Asher ben David.

Kabbalah work by R. Avraham Beruchin.

4994-5060 (1234- c. 1300 CE). Author of Otzar HaKavod a mystical interpretation of Talmudic Aggadata; Shaar HaRazim a work that describes the 10 sefirot.

sons-in-law and grandsons of Rashi. The Baalei HaTosefot lived in France and Germany in 12-13th centuries CE. Rabbeinu Yaakov of Marvege, France wrote Responsa from Heaven 4963 (1203 CE) — using mystical techniques he obtained responses from the Heavenly Court regarding certain questions he posed.

early Chassidic work by R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first ("Alter") Rebbe of the Lubavitcher dynasty; it provides Chassidic insight according to the weekly Torah readings of Genesis and Exodus.