Vilna Gaon

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

Works

Elijah was a voluminous author; and there is hardly an ancient Hebrew book of any importance to which he did not write a commentary, or at least provide marginal glosses and notes, which were mostly dictated to his pupils; but nothing of his was published in his lifetime. Glosses on the Babylonian Talmud and Shulkhan Arukh are known as Biur ha-Gra ("Elaboration by the Gra"). A running commentary on the Mishnah is titled Shenoth Eliyahu ("The Years of Eliah"). Various Kabbalistic works have commentaries in his name. Finally, his insights on the Pentateuch are titled Adereth Eliyahu ("The Splendor of Eliah").

Related Topics:
Babylonian Talmud - Shulkhan Arukh - Mishnah - Kabbalistic - Pentateuch

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Some attribute the mathematical theorem Cramer's rule to him. The more commonly held view is, however, that it was formulated by Gabriel Cramer. He did write on mathematics, being well versed in the works of Euclid and encouraging his pupil Rabbi Baruch of Shklov to translate the great mathematician's works into Hebrew. A mathematical work titled Ayil Meshulash ("A Young Sheep in Three Parts", a reference to Abraham's "Convenent Between the Parts" in Genesis 15:9) is generally attributed to him. As to the question when he found the time to compose this work, writers have suggested that it was written in the bathroom, where it would be improper to entertain thoughts of Torah.

Related Topics:
Cramer's rule - Gabriel Cramer - Euclid

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