List of rabbis
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List of prominent rabbis. Rabbis are Judaism's spiritual and religious leaders.
See also: List of Jews.
Two rabbis in discussion
Rabbis: Pre-Mishnaic
- See: Mishnah.
- Shimon ben Shetach
- Ben Sira, 2nd century BCE, Egypt, ethics and wisdom teacher - Apocryphal
- Shemaya
- Avtalyon
Rabbis: Mishnaic (Tannaim)
- See Mishnah.
- Rabbi Akiva, 1st century Judea, central scholar in Mishnah
- Hillel the Elder, 1st century BCE, in Judea, considered the greatest sage of the Second Temple period.
- Judah haNasi, 2nd century, Judah the Prince, in Judea, redactor (editor) of the Mishnah
- Shammai, 1st century BCE, in Judea, key scholar in Mishnah
- Simeon bar Yohai, 1st century mystic, reputed author of the Zohar
- Yohanan ben Zakkai, 1st century sage in Judea, key to the development of the Mishnah
Rabbis: Talmudic (Amoraim)
- See Talmud.
- Abbahu, 4th century Talmudist
- Abaye, 3rd century Talmudist
- Abba Arika, known as Rav, last Tanna, first Amora. Moved from Israel to Babylon, 3rd century.
- Rav Ashi, 5th century Babylonian Talmudic sage - primary redactor of the Babylonian Talmud
- Eleazar Kalir, early Talmudic liturgist and poet
- Hamnuna - Several rabbis in the Talmud had this name.
- Rabbi Yochanan, primary author of the Jerusalem Talmud
- Shmuel (Talmud), rabbi of Nehardea, physician
- Rabbah
- Rav Yosef
- Rava, important Amora
- Ravina, primary aide to Rav Ashi in the redaction of the Babylonian Talmud
- Hillel, son of Gamaliel III, 3rd century, in Judea, grandson of Judah ha-Nasi, and younger brother of Judah Nesiah
- Hillel II, 4th century creator of the Hebrew calendar, in Judea, son of Judah Nesiah, grandson of Gamaliel IV
- Judah II, 3rd century sage, sometimes called Judah Nesi'ah and Rebbi like his grandfather
- Judah III, 4th century scholar, son of Gamaliel IV, and grandson of Judah II
Rabbis: Middle Ages
- Abba Mari, (Minhat Kenaot), 13th century French Talmudist
- Don Isaac Abravanel, (Abarbanel), 15th century philosopher and Torah commentator
- Abraham ibn Daud, (Sefer HaKabbalah), 12th century Spanish philosopher
- Abraham ben David of Posquières, 1100s, France.
- Abraham ibn Ezra, (Even Ezra), 12th century Spanish-North African Biblical commentator
- Amram Gaon, 9th century organizer of the siddur
- Asher ben Jehiel, (Rosh), 13th century German-Spanish Talmudist
- Bahya ibn Paquda, (Hovot ha-Levavot), 11th century Spanish philosopher and moralist
- Chananel Ben Chushiel (Rabbeinu Chananel), 10th century Tunisian Talmudist
- Hasdai Crescas, (Or Hashem), 14th century Talmudist and philosopher
- Dunash ben Labrat, 10th century grammarian and poet
- Rabbenu Gershom, 11th century German Talmudist and legalist
- Gersonides, Levi ben Gershom, (Ralbag), 14th century French Talmudist and philosopher
- Eliezer ben Nathan, 12th century poet and pietist
- Hillel ben Eliakim, (Rabbeinu Hillel), 12the century Talmudist and disciple of Rashi
- Ibn Tibbon, a family of 12th and 13th century Spanish and French scholars, tranlators, and leaders
- Jacob ben Asher, (Baal ha-Turim ; Arbaah Turim), 14th century German-Spanish Halakhist
- Joseph Albo, (Sefer Ikkarim), 15th century Spain
- Maimonides, Moshe Ben Maimon, (Rambam), 13th century Spanish-North African Talmudist, philosopher, and law codifier
- Nahmanides, Moshe ben Nahman, (Ramban), 13th century Spanish and Holy Land mystic and Talmudist
- Nissim Ben Jacob (Rav Nissim Gaon) 10th century Tunisian Talmudist
- Nissim of Gerona, (RaN), 14th century Halakhist and Talmudist
- Rashi, (Solomon ben Yitzchak), 11th century Talmudist, the primary commentator of Talmud
- Elazar Rokeach, (Sefer HaRokeach) 12th century German rabbinic scholar
- Saadia Gaon, (Emunoth ve-Deoth ; Siddur) 10th century Exilarch and leader of Babylonian Jewry
- Samuel ben Judah ibn Tibbon, 12th-13th century French Maimonidean philosopher and translator
- Tosafists, (Tosfot) 11th, 12th and 13th century Talmudic scholars in France and Germany
- Yehuda Halevi, (Kuzari), 12th century Spanish philosopher and poet devoted to Zion
Rabbis: Later Middle Ages
- See: Acharonim.
- Isaac Abendana, 17th century Sephardic scholar in England
- Jacob Abendana, 17th century Sephardic rabbi in England
- Bezalel Ashkenazi, ( Shittah Mekubetzet), 16th century Talmudist
- Yair Bacharach, (Havvot Yair), 17th century German Talmudist
- Hillel ben Naphtali Zevi, (Bet Hillel), 17th century Lithuanian scholar
- Samuel Edels, (Maharsha), 16th century Talmudist
- Kalonymus Haberkasten 16th century Polish rabbi; Rosh Yeshiva of many great Rishonim
- Isaiah Horowitz (Shlah) 16th century Kabbalist and Author - Eastern Europe and Israel
- Moshe Isserles, (Rema), 16th century Polish legal scholar, author of Hamapah (component of the Shulkhan Arukh)
- Yosef Karo, (Mechaber), 16th century Spanish and Land of Israel legal codifier of the Shulkhan Arukh - code of Torah Law
- Meir Lublin, (Maharam), 16th century Posek and Talmudist
- Isaac Luria, (Ari), 16th century Holy Land mystic, founder of Lurianic Kabbalah
- Solomon Luria, (Maharshal), 16th century Posek and Talmudist
- Judah Low ben Bezalel, (Maharal), 16th century Prague mystic and Talmudist
- Obadiah ben Jacob Sforno, (Sforno), 16th century Italian scholar and rationalist
- Obadiah ben Abraham of Bertinoro, (Bartenura) 15th century commentator on the Mishnah
- Sforno, 15th, 16th, and 17th century family of Italian Torah scholars and philosophers
- Shalom Shachna, 16th century Polish Talmudist; Rosh Yeshiva of several great Rishonim
Orthodox rabbis
- See Orthodox Judaism.
Orthodox rabbis: 18th Century
- Haim Isaac Carigal, rabbi in Newport, Rhode Island in 1773 who became great influence on Reverend Ezra Stiles, and therefore on Yale University
- Dovber of Mezeritch, (Maggid), 18th century Eastern European mystic, primary disciple of the Baal Shem Tov
- Elijah ben Solomon, (Gra), 18th century Talmudist and mystic, Lithuanian leader of the Mitnagdim, opponent of Hasidim
- Elimelech of Lezhinsk, (Noam Elimelech) 18th century Polish mystic and Hasid
- Jacob Emden, 18th century German Talmudist and mystic
- Israel ben Eliezer, (Baal Shem Tov), 18th century mystic, founder of Hasidic Judaism
- Yechezkel Landau, (Nodah bi-Yehudah), 18th century Posek and Talmudist
- Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, (Ramchal), 18th century Italian philosopher, mystic, and moralist
- Shneur Zalman of Liadi, (Alter Rebbe), 18th century mystic and Talmudist, founder of Lubavitch Hasidism and first Lubavitcher Rebbe
- Akiva Eger, (Chidushei Rebbi Akiva) 18th century Talmudist, and communal leader
Orthodox rabbis: 19th Century
- Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, (Netziv ; Ha'emek Davar) 19th century head of Volozhin yeshiva in Lithuania
- Zvi Hirsch Chajes (Maharatz Chayes) Galician talmudic scholar
- Yechiel Michel Epstein, (Aruch ha-Shulchan) 19th-20th century halakhist and posek (decisor)
- Jacob Ettlinger, 19th century German scholar and opponent of Reform
- Azriel Hildesheimer, 19th century German rabbi and philosopher
- Samson Raphael Hirsch, 19th century German rabbi, founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz movement
- Malbim, Meir Lob ben Jehiel Michael, (The Malbim), 19th century Russian preacher and scholar
- Nachman of Breslav, (Reb Nachman), 19th century Ukrainian Hasidic rebbe and mystic
- Yisrael Lipkin Salanter, 19th century Lithuanian ethicist and moralist
- Dovber Schneersohn, 19th century Russian second Rebbe of Lubavitch
- Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, (Tzemach Tzedek), 19th century Russian third Rebbe of Lubavitch
- Shmuel Schneersohn, 19th century Russian fourth Rebbe of Lubavitch
- Moses Sofer, (Chatam Sofer) 19th century Eastern European rabbi
Orthodox rabbis: 20th Century
Modern and Zionist leaders
- Meir Berlin, (Bar Ilan) 20th century religious Zionist leader
- Umberto Cassuto, 20th Century Bible scholar
- Meir Kahane, (Never Again) 20th century founder of the American Jewish Defense League and the Israeli Kach party
- Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane, Israeli leader of Kahane Chai party
- Abraham Isaac Kook, 20th century philosopher and mystic, first chief rabbi of Palestine
- Immanuel Jakobovits, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, medical ethicist
Chareidi (Ultra-Orthodox) leaders
- Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, (Michtav Me'Eliyahu) 20th century religious philosopher and ethicist
- Baruch Epstein, (Torah Temimah), 20th century Lithuanian Torah commentator
- Moshe Mordechai Epstein, ( Levush Mordechai), 20th sentury Talmudist and co-head of Slabodka Yehiva
- Nosson Zvi Finkel, (Alter / Sabba), early 20th century founder of Slabodka Yeshiva, Lithuania. Disciples opened major yeshivas in US and Israel
- Moshe Feinstein, (Igrot Moshe), 20th century Russian-American legal scholar and Talmudist
- Yitzchok Hutner, (Pachad Yitzchok), 20th century European-born, American and Israeli Rosh Yeshiva
- Yisrael Meir Kagan, (Chofetz Chaim), 20th century Polish legalist and moralist
- Aryeh Kaplan, (Living Torah) 20th century writer and mystic
- Aharon Kotler, 20th century Lithuanian scholor, founder of Lakewood Yeshiva in US
- Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, (Ohr Sameiach ; Meshech Chochmah) Lithuanian-Latvian Talmudist and communal leader
- Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, (Mr. Mendlowitz) 20th century European-born head of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath in the US
- Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, 20th century Russian fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch
- Joseph Isaac Schneersohn, 20th century sixth Rebbe of Lubavitch
- Menachem Mendel Schneerson, (Lubavitcher Rebbe), 20th century Hasidic mystic and scholar, seventh Chabad Rebbe
- Joseph Soloveitchik, 20th century European-born Talmudist and philosopher
- Joel Teitelbaum, (Satmar Rebbe), 20th century Hasidic Hungarian-American rebbe known for anti-Zionism
- Chaim Michael Dov Weissmandl, (Min HaMeitzar) 20th century European scholar involved in rescue efforts during the Holocaust
- Chaim Kreiswirth, long-time Chief Rabbi of Antwerp (Belgium)
Orthodox rabbis: Contemporary
Modern Orthodox
- Norman Lamm, 21st century American modern Orthodox thinker, head of Yeshiva University
- Yosef Mendelevitch former Soviet "Refusenik" and Zionist activist
- Dov Zakheim, non-practicing modern Orthodox rabbi, economic and political leader in US government
- David Weiss Halivni, Hungarian-American Talmudist of Union for Traditional Judaism (UTJ)
- Aharon Lichtenstein, American-born head of an Israeli yeshiva
Chareidi (Ultra-Orthodox)
- Ger Rebbes, (Gerrer), Polish Hasidic dynasty now in Israel, followers also in the US and UK
- Vizhnitz Rebbes, (Vizhnitzer), Polish dynasty of Hasidic rebbes in Israel and the US
- Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, very respected Israeli rabbi and rabbinical leader of the chareidi world
- Israel Kirzner, economist and authority on writings of Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner
- Adin Steinsaltz, 21st century Israeli Talmud scholar and philosopher
- Ovadia Yosef, 21st century Iraqi-Israeli former Israel Sephardic Chief Rabbi, legal scholar
- Shlomo Amar, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel
- Yona Metzger, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
- Moshe Gafni, member of Israeli parliament
- Israel Meir Lau, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel and current Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv
- Moshe Teitelbaum, Satmar Rebbe
Conservative rabbis
- See: Conservative Judaism.
Conservative rabbis: 19th Century
- Zecharias Frankel, 19th century critical historian, founder of the Positive historical school, the progenitor to Judaism Conservative.
- Nachman Krochmal, 19th century Austrian philosopher and historian
Conservative rabbis: 20th Century
- Louis Finkelstein, 20th century Conservative Talmud scholar
- Louis Ginzberg, 20th century American Conservative Talmud scholar
- Robert Gordis, 20th century leader in Conservative Judaism
- Jules Harlow, 20th century Conservative Judaism liturgist
- Abraham Joshua Heschel, 20th century Conservative Judaism philosopher and scholar of Hasidism
- Isaac Klein, 20th century American Conservative rabbi and scholar
- Saul Lieberman, 20th century Lithuanian-American Conservative-Orthodox Talmud scholar
- Marshall Meyer, 20th century American Conservative rabbi and human rights activist, founded a Rabbinical school and synagogue in Argentina
- Solomon Schechter, 20th century scholar and a founder of Conservative Judaism
Conservative rabbis: Contemporary
- Elliot N. Dorff, Conservative rabbi and bioethicist
- Neil Gillman, Conservative philosopher and theologian
- David Golinkin - Masorti rabbi and halakhist.
- Louis Jacobs - Founder of the Masorti movement in the United Kingdom, theologian.
- William E. Kaufman - Advocate for process theology
- Harold Kushner, 21st century American Conservative rabbi, theologian, and popular writer
- Jacob Neusner, Conservative trained scholar and prolific writer
- Joel Roth, Conservative scholar and rabbi
- Ismar Schorsch, Conservative educator and leader
Conservative rabbinical organizations
Reform rabbis
- See Reform Judaism.
Reform rabbis: 19th Century
- Samuel Adler, 19th century German-American rabbi of Temple Emanu-El
- Emil Hirsch, 19th century American Reform rabbi and scholar
- Samuel Hirsch, 19th century German-American philosopher of the Reform Movement
- Abraham Geiger, 19th century German Reform ideologist
- Samuel Holdheim, 19th century German rabbi and founder of classic German Reform Judaism
- Leopold Zunz, 19th century German scholar, founded Science of Judaism school
Reform rabbis: 20th Century
- Paula Ackerman, 20th century Reform rabbi (first woman to perform rabbinical functions, not ordained)
- Leo Baeck, 20th century Reform rabbi
- Sally Priesand, 20th century Reform rabbi, first ordained female rabbi in the United States
- Stephen S. Wise, 20th century Reform rabbi and Zionist activist
Reform rabbinical organizations
Reconstructionist rabbis
Reconstructionist rabbis: 20th Century
- Mordecai Kaplan, 20th century founder of the Reconstructionist movement in America
Reconstructionist rabbis: Contemporary
- Carol Harris-Shapiro, modern author
Other rabbis
See Jewish Renewal ; Humanistic Judaism
- Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, leader of the Jewish Renewal movement
- Sherwin Wine, US founder of Society for Humanistic Judaism
- Michael Lerner founder/editor of Tikkun magazine
External links
Orthodox
- List of leaders (http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/rabbis/default.htm), Orthodox Union
- "Famous rabbis" (http://www.famousrabbis.com), famousrabbis.com
- Biographies of Gedolim (http://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/index._alphabetical.html), tzemachdovid.org
- Mini-Biographies of Gedolim (http://chaburas.org/), chaburas.org
Conservative
- Benson Skoff, 20th century Conservative rabbi (http://www.e-bski.org/history.html)
Pan-denominational
- Torah Commentator Biographies (http://www.kolel.org/pages/parasha/commentator.html#CommentatorBios), kolel.org
- List of Commentators (http://www.torahproductions.com/commentators.jsp), torahproductions.comja:ユダヤ史関連人物の一覧