Vilna Gaon

The Vilna Gaon (b. April 23 1720–October 9 1797) was a prominent Jewish rabbi, Talmud scholar, and Kabbalist.

Influence

He was one of the most influential Rabbinic authorities since the Middle Ages, and – although he is counted as an Acharon – he is held by many authorities after him as belonging to the Rishonim (Rabbinic authorities of the Middle Ages). Large groups of people, including many yeshivas, uphold the set of customs (minhag) that can be traced back to him: the minhag ha-Gra.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Acharon - Rishonim - Yeshiva

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His main student Rabbi Chaim Volozhin, founded the first yeshiva in his home town of Volozhin, Lithuania (now in Belarus). The results of this move, which met with the Vilna Gaon's approval, revolutionised Torah study, and the results of this process are still felt in Orthodox Jewry.

Related Topics:
Chaim Volozhin - Yeshiva - Volozhin - Lithuania - Belarus - Torah study - Orthodox Jewry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is a statue of him and a street named after him in Vilnius, the place of both his birth and his death.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~