ẒEMAḤ, JACOB BEN ḤAYYIM — (d. after 1665), kabbalist and physician. A member of a Converso family in northern Portugal, he first served as a physician. He decided to go to Ereẓ Israel and passed through Salonika where he studied Torah. Some time between 1610 and 1620, he… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Zemah ben Hayyim — (Hebrew: צמח בן חיים) was Gaon of Sura from 889 to 895. He was the stepbrother and successor of Nahshon ben Zadok, and has become known especially through the reply which he made to the inquiry of the Kairwanites regarding Eldad ha Dani. This… … Wikipedia
Jacob ben Hayyim Zemah — (17th century) was a Portuguese kabalist and physician. He received a medical training in his native country as a Marano, but fled about 1619 to Safed and devoted himself to the Talmud and the casuists ( poseḳim ) until 1625; then he went to… … Wikipedia
HELLER, YOM TOV LIPMANN BEN NATHAN HA-LEVI — (1579–1654), Moravian rabbi, commentator on the Mishnah. Heller was born in Wallerstein, Bavaria. He received his education in the home of his grandfather, Moses Wallerstein, as well as, among others, from judah loew b. bezalel (the Maharal) of… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Nahshon ben Zadok — Rabbinical Eras Chazal Zugot Tannaim Amoraim Savoraim Geonim Rishonim Acharonim Nahshon ben Zadok Gaon (Hebrew: נחשון בן צדוק or sometimes: Nahshon b. Zadok) was head of the Academy of Sura from 874 to 882, in succession to Mar Amram ben Sheshna … Wikipedia
VITAL, ḤAYYIM BEN JOSEPH — (1542–1620), one of the greatest kabbalists. Vital was born in Ereẓ Israel, apparently in Safed. His father, Joseph Vital Calabrese, whose name indicates his origin from Calabria, South Italy, was a well known scribe in Safed (see responsa of… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
DURAN, SIMEON BEN ẒEMAḤ — (RaSHBaẒ, Hebrew acronym of Rabbi Shimon ben Ẓemaḥ; 1361–1444), rabbinic authority, philosopher, and scientist. He was born in Majorca to R. Ẓemaḥ Astruc Duran. In his youth Simeon studied in Palma (Majorca) at the yeshivah of Ephraim Vidal, who… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
LURIA, ISAAC BEN SOLOMON — (1534–1572), kabbalist, referred to as Ha Ari (האר״י; the (sacred) lion from the initials of האלוהי רבי יצחק; Ha Elohi Rabbi Yiẓḥak, the divine Rabbi ). This cognomen was in use by the end of the 16th century, apparently at first in kabbalistic… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
ISSERLES, MOSES BEN ISRAEL — (1525 or 1530–1572), Polish rabbi and codifier, one of the great halakhic authorities. His full family name, Isserel Lazarus was shortened to Isserles, but he is usually referred to as the Rema (acronym of Rabbi Moses Isserles). Isserles was born … Encyclopedia of Judaism
JUDAH LOEW (Liwa, Loeb) BEN BEZALEL — (known as Der Hohe Rabbi Loew and MaHaRaL mi Prag; c. 1525–1609), rabbi, talmudist, moralist, and mathematician. Judah Loew was the scion of a noble family which hailed from Worms. His father, Bezalel b. Ḥayyim, was the brother in law of R. Isaac … Encyclopedia of Judaism
