Rishonim

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Periods of development of the Halakha
Zugot Tannaim Amoraim Savoraim Geonim Rishonim Acharonim

Rishonim (Hebrew: ראשונים; sing. ראשון, Rishon) literally "the first," or "the former," is a term referring to the leading Rabbis and Poskim who lived approximately from 1250 to 1500, that is in the era before the writing of the Shulkhan Arukh and following the Geonim. Rabbinic scholars subsequent to the Shulkhan Arukh are known as " Acharonim - the latter".

The distinction between Rishonim and Geonim is meaningful historically; in Halakha (Jewish Law) the distinction is less important. According to many rabbis in the Orthodox Jewish community, Achronim cannot dispute the rulings of rabbis of previous eras unless they find support of other eras from rabbis in previous eras. On the other hand, this view is not formally a part of halakhah itself, and according to some rabbis is a violation of the halalkhic system. In the The Principles of Jewish Law Orthodox rabbi Menachem Elon writes that such a view:

inherently violates the precept of Hilkheta Ke-Vatra'ei, that is, the law is according to the later scholars. This rule dates from the Geonic period. It laid down that until the time of Rabbis Abbaye and Rava (4th century) the Halakha was to be decided according to the views of the earlier scholars, but from that time onward, the halakhic opinions of post-talmudic scholars would prevail over the contrary opinions of a previous generation. See Piskei Ha'Rosh, Bava Metzia 3:10, 4:21, Shabbat 23:1

[edit] Some Rishonim

Abba Mari, (Minhat Kenaot), 13th century French Talmudist
Don Isaac Abravanel, (Abarbanel), 15th century philosopher and Torah commentator
Jacob Berab, 15th-16th century proponent of Semichah (Ordination)
Israel Bruna, (Mahari Bruna), 15th century German Rabbi and Posek
Levi Ibn Chaviv, 15th-16th century, Spanish born, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem
Abraham ibn Daud, (Sefer HaKabbalah), 12th century Spanish philosopher
Abraham ibn Ezra, (Even Ezra), 12th century Spanish-North African Biblical commentator
David ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra, (Radbaz), 15-16th century commentator and halakist, chief rabbi of Egypt
David Abudraham, a student of the Baal Ha-Turim
Amram Gaon, 9th century organizer of the siddur
Samuel ben Jacob Jam'a, 12th century North African rabbi and scholar
Asher ben Jehiel, (Rosh), 13th century German-Spanish Talmudist
David Kimhi, (RaDaK) 12th century French biblical commentator, philosopher, and grammarian
Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin, (Maharil), 14th century codifier of German minhag
Obadiah ben Abraham of Bertinoro, (Bartenura), 15th century commentator on the Mishnah
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
Isaac Alfasi, (the Rif), 12th century North African and Spanish Talmudist and Halakhist; author of "Sefer Ha-halachoth".
Jacob ben Asher, (Baal ha-Turim ; Arbaah Turim), 14th century German-Spanish Halakhist
Joseph Albo, (Sefer Ikkarim), 15th century Spain
Joseph ibn Migash 12th century Spanish Talmudist and Rosh Yeshiva; teacher of Maimon, father of Maimonides
Meir Abulafia, (Yad Ramah), 13th century Spanish Talmudist
Maimonides, Moshe Ben Maimon, (Rambam), 13th century Spanish-North African Talmudist, philosopher, and law codifier
Mordecai ben Hillel, (The Mordechai), 13th century German Halakhist
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
Samuel ben Judah ibn Tibbon, 12th-13th century French Maimonidean philosopher and translator
Tosafists, (Tosafot), 11th, 12th and 13th century Talmudic scholars in France and Germany
Yehuda Halevi, (Kuzari), 12th century Spanish philosopher and poet devoted to Zion
Menachem Meiri, (Meiri), 13th century Talmudist
Yom Tov Asevilli, (Ritva), 13th century Talmudist
Yitzhak Saggi Nehor, (Isaac the Blind), 12th-13th century Provencal Kabbalist
Solomon ben Aderet, (Rashba), 13th century Talmudist
Aharon HaLevi, (Ra'ah), 13th century Talmudist
Zerachiah ha-Levi of Girona, (Baal Ha-Maor) 12th century Talmudist
Meshullam ben Jacob, (Rabbeinu Meshullam Hagodol), 12th century Talmudist