List of prominent rabbis. Rabbis are Judaism's spiritual and religious leaders.

See also: List of Jews.

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 (Geonim and Rishonim)

• 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 (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

• 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
• 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

• Meir Berlin, (Bar Ilan) 20th century religious Zionist leader
• Umberto Cassuto, 20th Century Bible scholar
• 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
• Immanuel Jakobovits, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, medical ethicist
• Yisrael Meir Kagan, (Chofetz Chaim), 20th century Polish legalist and moralist
• 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
• Aryeh Kaplan, (Living Torah) 20th century writer and mystic
• Abraham Isaac Kook, 20th century philosopher and mystic, first chief rabbi of Palestine
• 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

Orthodox rabbis: Contemporary

• Ger Rebbes, (Gerrer), Polish Hasidic dynasty now in Israel, followers also in the US and UK
• David Weiss Halivni, Hungarian-American Talmudist of Union for Traditional Judaism (UTJ)
• Israel Kirzner, economist and authority on writings of Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner
• Norman Lamm, 21st century American modern Othodox thinker, head of Yeshiva University
• Aharon Lichtenstein, American-born head of an Israeli yeshiva
• Adin Steinsaltz, 21st century Israeli Talmud scholar and philosopher
• Yosef Mendelevitch former Soviet "Refusenik" and Zionist activist
• Vizhnitz Rebbes, (Vizhnitzer), Polish dynasty of Hasidic rebbes in Israel and the US
• Ovadia Yosef, 21st century Iraqi-Israeli former Israel Sephardic Chief Rabbi, legal scholar
• Dov Zakheim, non-practicing modern Orthodox rabbi, economic and political leader in US government

Orthodox rabbinical organizations

• • Agudath Israel of America
  • Chabad Lubavitch
  • Rabbinical Council of America
  • The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

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

• • Rabbinical Assembly
  • United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
  • Committee on Jewish Law and Standards

Reform rabbis

See Reform Judaism

Reform rabbis: 19th Century

• Emil Hirsch, 19th century American Reform rabbi and scholar
• Samuel Hirsch, 19th century German-American philosopher of the Reform Movement
• 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

• Leo Baeck, 20th century Reform rabbi
• Sally Priesand, 20th century Reform rabbi, first female rabbi in the United States
• Stephen S. Wise, 20th century Reform rabbi and Zionist activist

Reform rabbinical organizations

• • Union for Reform Judaism
  • Central Conference of American Rabbis

Reconstructionist rabbis

See Reconstructionist Judaism

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, Orthodox Union
• "Famous rabbis", famousrabbis.com
• Biographies of Gedolim, tzemachdovid.org
• Mini-Biographies of Gedolim , chaburas.org

Conservative

• Benson Skoff, 20th century Conservative rabbi

Pan-denominational

• Torah Commentator Biographies, kolel.org