Ashkenazi (Ba'er Hetev; 1730–1770), a German rabbi Zechariah Mendel ben Aryeh Leib of Cracow (Ba'er Hetev) Joseph ben Meir Teomim (1727–1792; Pri Megadim) Vilna Gaon ("Gra") (1720–1797), Lithuanian Talmudist and Kabbalist; Note: The Chazon Ish held him to be a Rishon Chaim Yosef David Azulai ("Chida"; Birkei Yosef - a commentary on the Shulchan Aruch) (1724–1806) Jacob Emden (1697–1776), Danish/German scholar Shalom Sharabi (1720–1777), Yemenite Sage, Kabbalist and founder of the Beit El Yeshiva, Jerusalem Shneur Zalman of Liadi ('The Baal HaTanya'; Shulchan Aruch HaRav) (1745–1812) Elazar Fleckeles (1754 – 1826) Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1767 - 1827) Samuel Loew (c. 1720–1806; Machatzis HaShekel) Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller (c. 1745 – 1812; Ketzot HaChoshen) Avraham Danzig (1748—1820; Chayei Adam; Chochmat Adam) Yaakov Lorberbaum (1760-1832; Nesivos HaMishpat) Akiva Eger (1761 – 1837) 19th Century Yehudah Leib Alter (Sfas Emes) (1847–1905), Gerrer rebbe Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv, HaEmek Davar) (1816–1893), head of Volozhin Yeshiva in Lithuania Abraham Hirsch ben Jacob Eisenstadt of Byelostok (1812–1868; Pithchei Teshuvah) Baruch Epstein (Torah Temimah) (1860-1941), Lithuanian Torah commentator Moshe Mordechai Epstein (Levush Mordechai) (1866–1933), Talmudist and co-head of Slabodka Yeshiva Yechiel Michel Epstein (Aruch HaShulchan) (1829–1908), Halakhist and Posek Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888), German rabbi, founder of the Torah im Derech Eretz movement Yisrael Meir Kagan (Chofetz Chaim; Mishnah Berurah) (1838–1933), Polish Halakhist, Posek, and moralist Yosef Hayyim of Baghdad (Ben Ish Chai) (1835–1909), Iraqi Halakhist, Posek, Kabbalist and communal leader Meir Leib ben Yechiel Michel (Malbim) (1809–1879), Russian preacher and scholar Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (Tzemach Tzedek; 1789-1866) Moses Sofer (Chatam Sofer) (1762–1839), Hungarian rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik ("Reb Chaim Brisker") (1853–1918), Rosh Yeshivah in Valozhyn, Innovator of the Brisker method Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky (Ridbaz) (1845–1913), of Slutzk, Chicago and Tzfat (1845–1913) Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (Ohr Sameiach, Meshech Chochmah) (1843–1926), Lithuanian-Latvian Talmudist and communal leader 20th Century Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag (RaBaSh) (1907-1991), author of the Shlavei HaSulam and Shamati Yehuda Ashlag (Baal HaSulam) (1884-1954), author of The Sulam commentary on The Book of Zohar Shlomo Zalman Auerbach 1910-1995 Major Modern Posek in Israel Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler (Michtav Me'Eliyahu) (1892–1953), 20th century religious philosopher and ethicist Mordechai Eliyahu (1929–2010), Halakhist, Posek, and Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel (1983–1993) Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe) (1895–1986), Russian-American Halakhist, Posek, and Talmudist Yitzchok Hutner (Pachad Yitzchok) (1906–1980), European-born American and Israeli Rosh Yeshiva Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (Chazon Ish) (1878–1953), Belarusian-born, leading halakhic authority and leader of Haredi Judaism in