Rav Menachem Mendel Hager of Kosov (1768-1825), founder of the Vizhnitz and Kosov dynasties and author of Ahavas Shalom. The son of Rav Yaakov Koppel Chassid, Rav Menachem Mendel was a student of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov, Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Nadvorna, and Rav Ze’ev Wolfe of Tcharne-Ostra. His grandson was Rav Menachem Mendel of Vizhnitz.
Rav Reuven Katz, rav of Petach Tikva and author of Degel Reuven. His son, Rav Leizer Katz, was a rav in Passaic, New Jersey, for many years until his petira in 2001.

Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach (1894-2001). Born in Vaboilnick, Lithuania, and left for Ponevezh (38km away) at age 7. Learned at Slabodka under Rav Yechezkel Bernstein (Divrei Yechezkel), then under the Alter (Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, and developed a close relationship with Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, whose niece Rav Shach eventually married. In 1927, he served as Rosh Mesivta at Kletzk under Rav Aharon Kotler, holding the same position at Novardok from 1932-34. In 1951, he started his career as Rosh Yeshiva at Ponevezh under Rav Yosef Kahanemen.
Rav Simcha Sheps, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas for over 50 years
Today in History – 16 Cheshvan

Mattisyahu ben Yochanan, Kohen Godol, father of the Chasmonaim (138 BCE, or 165)
Rav Eliezer ben Yitzchak ibn Archa (1651). Born in Tzefas, he moved to Chevron, where he served as Rav of the small Jewish population for most of his life. According to the Chida, he wrote many works including a commentary on Ein Yaakov and on Midrash Rabbah.
Rav Tzvi Horowitz of Tchortkov, father of Reb Shmelke of Nikolsburg and the Baal Haflaa (1753)

Rav Yehuda Lowy, grandfather of the Maharal (1539)
Rav Leib Baal HaYisurim in Tzefas (1836)
Rav Aharon Weiss of Benedkwits (1851-1932). At the age of 20, he became Rav of Benedkwits, a town near Munkatch. He opened a yeshiva there. In 1907, he moved his yeshiva to Raswigeff region of Munkatch, where he served as Rav and Dayan.

Rav Yehuda Hachassid, author of Sefer Hachassidim (1150-1217). He was born in Speyer (Shapira) and died in Regensburg. His father, Shmuel, was a saintly and renowned Rosh Yeshiva in Speyer, and Rav Yehudah studied under him. He also wrote Sefer Gimatriot and was one of the main teachers of the ‘Chassidei Ashkenaz’. Among his talmidim were the Or Zarua and the Semag.

Rav Yehuda Tzadka, rosh yeshiva of Porat Yosef (1909-1991). Born in Yerushalayim, Rav Yehuda was a great-great grandson of Rav Tzadka Chutzin, author of Tzedaka U’misphat. His mother, Simcha, was the Ben Ish Chai’s niece. The Tzadka family lived in the Beis Yisrael neighborhood of Yerushalayim. When he was 12 years old, Yehuda Tzadka enrolled in the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Old City. There, he became very close to Rav Ezra Attia. At the age of only 27 years, he was appointed to teach at the yeshiva. Among Reb Yehuda’s first students was Rav Ovadia Yosef. In time, Rav Yehuda became the menahel ruchani, and with the petira of Rav Ezra Attias in 1970, he was appointed to new Rosh Yeshiva.

Gad ben Yaakov Avinu (1566 BCE-1441 BCE)
Rav Yechiel Michel of Krakow, author of Seder Gittin (1660)

Rabbeinu Asher ben Yechiel, the Rosh (1250-1327). One of the three primary rishonim on whom the Rav Yosef Karo relied for the Shulchan Aruch. Rav Asher’s family traced its lineage to Rabbeinu Gershon. Rav Asher learned under Rav Meir of Rotenberg. After 10 years as the successor of Rav Meir and the leader of German Jewery, he escaped German persecution and settled in Toledo, Spain.

Rav Menachem Nachum Kaplan (Nachumke) of Horodna, Lithuania (1811-1879). When he was nine years old, he lived in the home of Reb Yehuda Leib Ganker and learned with this wealthy man every morning. Later, he wandered through Lithuania until he came to Amshina, where he studied under Rav Avraham Kahane. Eventually, he was accepted to the Mirrer yeshiva and became close to its mashgiach, Rav Yisrael Heller. He married the daughter of wealthy man, but after a number of years, his father-in-law died.

Rav Yehuda Meir Shapiro of Lublin (1887-1933). His father, Rav Yaakov Shimshon Katz of Shatz, Romania, was a descendent of Rav Pinchas Koretz, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov. His mother, Margala, was the daughter of Rav Shmuel Yitzchak Schor, author of Minchas Shai, and a descendent of the author of Tevu’as Shor. He was also a descendent of Rav Bechor Shor of Orleans, one of the Baalie Tosefos. He was married in 1906 and took his first appointment, Rav of Galina, in 1911. In 1921, he became Rav of Sanok, then in 1924 Rav of Piotrkov. It was while there that he wrote his sefer Or HaMeir. Also in 1923, he began the first cycle of Daf Yomi, having shared this idea at the first Knessiah Gedolah of Agudath Yisrael the previous year.