Yaakov ben Masoud Abuchatzera

 

5567-5640 (1807-1880 CE) Morocco; author of numerous kabbalistic treatises, and patriarch of a family of kabbala scholars.


Yaakov ben Sheshet of Gerona

A colleague of R. Ezra and R. Azriel of Gerona. Reputedly the author of Shaar HaShamayim (Warsaw 1798 CE).


Yaakov of Marvege

 

France, one of the Tosafot school, wrote Responsa from Heaven 4963 (1203 CE) — using mystical techniques he obtained responses from the Heavenly Court regarding certain questions he posed.


Yaakov Meir Spielman

Bucharest. Author of Tal Orot (Levov 1876 CE)


Yaakov Tzemach

 

Born in Portugal- settled in Safed sometime between 5370-5380 (1610-1620 CE). In 5388 (1628 CE) went to Damascus, Syria to learn under R. Shmuel Vital. d. after 5425 (1665 CE).


Yare'ach Yakar

a commentary on Zohar by R. Avraham Galante.


Yehoshua ben Chananya

 

(1st and 2nd C Tanna CE). One of the five main disciples of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai.


Yehoyada HaKohen

began prophesying in 3055 (705 BCE) received from Elisha and his court.


Yehoshua ben Prachya

 

and Nittai HaArbeli and their courts. The former was appointed as Nasi of the Sanhedrin in 3610 (151 BCE). They and their court received from Yose ben Yo'ezer and Yosef ben Yochanan and their court.


Yehudah ben Betzalel Loew

the Maharal of Prague. c. 5285-5369 (c. 1525-1609 CE). His mystical writings include Be'er Hagolah; Netivot Olam; Tiferet Yisrael. He is also famous for having produced a golem (humanoid).


Yehuda ben Tabbai

 

and his court received from Yehoshua ben Prachya and Nittai HaArbeli. Yehuda ben Tabbai and Shimon ben Shatach and their courts received from Yehoshua ben Prachya and Nittai HaArbeli. Shimon ben Shatach became the rabbinical head of the Sanhedrin in 3688 (73 BCE).


Yehuda ben Yakar

c. 4910 - c. 4985 (c. 1150 - c. 1225 CE). 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 Ramban, and the Rashba spoke very highly of him — see Teshuvot HaRashba #523.


Yehuda Chayat

 

suffered terrible persecution at the hands of the Spanish Inquisition until he managed to flee to Venice and then Mantua. He is famous for his commentary — called Minchat Yehudah — on Maarechet HaElokut.


Yehuda HaChassid

of Regensburg lived c. 4910-4977 (c. 1150-1217 CE), author of Sefer Chasidim. He headed the movement of Chasidei Ashkenaz. He had learned Kabbala from his father, Rabbi Shmuel ben Klonymos.


Yehudah Ashlag

 

(Sulam) 5645-5714 (1885-1954 CE). Author of the Sulam, a comprehensive commentary on the entire Zohar. Rabbi Ashlag was born in Lodz Poland. In 1921 CE, he emigrated to Israel. He passed away in Jerusalem where he is interred.


Yehudah ben Barzilai

of Barcelona 4795-4865 (1035-1105 CE) author of an important commentary on Sefer Yetzira. He was also famous for his encyclopedic knowledge of all major halachic works until his time. His Beit Midrash became the center of halachic rulings in his time.


Yeshayahu Horowitz

 

(Shlah) b. 5320 (1560 CE) in Prague; d. 5390 (1630 CE) in Jerusalem. Author of Shnei Luchot HaBrit (Shelah).


Yisrael Abuchatzera

(the Baba Sali) 5649-5744 (1889-1984 CE) Morocco. Moved to Israel where he settled in Netivot. His graveside has become a holy site visited by thousands annually.


Yisrael Sarug

 

[or Saruk] (16th century). A disciple of the Ari zal in Egypt and Israel, later influential in Italy. Author of Limmudei HaAtzilut, "Kontres Ne'im Zemirot Yisrael," a kabbalistic commentary on three of Luria's piyutim (sacred poems) for Sabbath, and other kabbalistic works published after his lifetime.


Yitzchak Abuchatzera

5657-5730 (1897-1970 CE) Morocco.


Yitzchak of Acco

 

5010-5100 (1250-1340 CE). A disciple of Ramban after the latter came to the came to the Holy Land.


Yitzchak Luria

(Ari zal, 'the Ari') 5294-5332 (1534-1572 CE). Born in Jerusalem, d. in Safed. Founder of a new school in Kabbala — so-called "Lurianic Kabbala." Studied with Rabbi Moshe Cordovero whom he succeeded as the leading mystic of Safed.


Yitzchak Sagi-Nahor

 

(the Blind) c. 12th C. CE. Son of Raavad III (Rabad of Posquieres); grandson of Rabbi Avraham ben Yitchak of Narbonne. Teacher of Rabbi Ezra and Rabbi Azriel of Gerona, the teachers of Ramban.


Yochanan ben Zakai

3713-3833 (47 BCE-73 CE). He received from Hillel and Shammai and their courts. Expert in Kabbala, Rabbi Yochanan had five main disciples: Rabbi Eliezer HaGadol, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Yose HaKohen, Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel and Rabbi Elazar ben Arach.. Rabbi Akiva apparently also studied under Rabbi Yochanan. (See Ethics of the Fathers Pirkei Avot 2:8; Talmud Chagiga 14b, Tosefta 2; Sanhedrin 68a.


Yona Gerondi

 

(Rabbeinu) 4940-5023 (c. 1180-1263 CE)


Yonatan Eybeshutz

c. 5450-5524 (c. 1690-1764 CE). Studied in Poland, Moravia and Prague as a child, and later in Prossnitz and Vienna. Settled in Prague. In 5485, (1725 CE) excommunicated Shabbtai Tzvi's sect. Appointed Dayan of Prague in 5496 (1736 CE); Rabbi of Metz in 5501 (1741 CE) and Rabbi of the three communities Altona, Hamburg and Wandsek in 5510 (1750 CE). Was suspected of Shabbatean leanings by Yaakov Emden and became the center of many disputes.


Yose ben Yo'ezer

 

of Tzraidah d. 3610 (151 BCE) was appointed as President (Nasi) of the Sanhedrin in 3550 (211 BCE). This court received from Antigonos and his court.


Yosef Caro

4258-5335 (1488-1575 CE) Rabbi Yosef was born in Spain and fled the Inquisition with his family at the age of 4. Settled in Safed, Israel. Author of Shulchan Aruch (Code of the Jewish Law) and a mystical work entitled Maggid Mesharim.


Yosef Chaim of Baghdad

 

(known from the name of his most famous work as the Ben Ish Chai) 5594-5669 (1834-1909 CE) Prolific leader of Persian Jewry and kabbalist. In addition to many works on Jewish law and Talmud, authored many kabbalistic commentaries.


Yosef Gikatila

5008 - c. 5070 (1248- c. 1310 CE) born in Medinaceli, Castile and lived in Segovia for many years. Between 1272-1274 studied with Avraham Abulafia who praised him as his most successful student. Wrote Ginat Egoz; Shaarei Orah; Shaarei Tzedek; Shaar HaNikud. Was apparently friendly with Moshe de Leon around 5040 (1280' s CE).


Yosef Karo

 

variant spelling of Yosef Caro 4258-5335 (1488-1575 CE) Rabbi Yosef was born in Spain and fled the Inquisition with his family at the age of 4. Settled in Safed, Israel. Author of Shulchan Aruch (Code of the Jewish Law) and a mystical work entitled Maggid Mesharim.


Yosef Yuzpa

5250-5330 (c. 1490-1570 CE). An Italian rabbi and kabbalist. See Otzar HaGedolim #520.


Yosher Leivavv

 

a kabbalistic work by R. Emanuel Chai Riki.


Zekel of Worms

the Baal Shem of Michelshtadt, mid 18th C. CE


Zohar

 

major Kabbalah work originally redacted by R. Shimon bar Yochai; and subject of many commentaries since that time.