Acharonim
Beit Elohim
16th-century work by Rabbi Moshe di Trani on prayer, repentance, and fundamental beliefs.
Derekh Hashem
18th-century work of the Ramchal systematically organizing the basics of Jewish thought in clear and accessible language.
Derush Chiddushei HaLevanah
17th-century treatise by Tosefot Yom-Tov expanding upon a midrash that describes God's diminishing of the moon during creation
Essay on Fundamentals
The Ramchal’s brief summary of his Derekh Hashem.
Horeb
19th-century work by R. Samson Raphael Hirsch that aims to convey the meanings of Jewish laws and inspire traditional observance
Imrei Binah
19th-century work of the Ben Ish Chai containing riddles, religious instruction, and Torah insights.
Kol HaTor
Work describing the teachings of the Vilna Gaon on the signs of redemption, first published in the 20th century.
Letter to the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel
Letter sent from rabbis in Israel to the tribes that they hoped would be found by an emissary sent to Yemen in 1830.
Maharal
Works of the 16th-century mystic, philosopher, and talmudist Rabbi Yehuda Loew, commonly referred to as the Maharal of Prague.
Be'er HaGolah
Defense of aggadic (non-legal) parts of the Talmud and Midrash in light of criticism from Jewish and non-Jewish thinkers.
Derashat Shabbat HaGadol
Sermon delivered by the Maharal on Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Passover.
Derush al HaTorah
Sermon delivered by the Maharal on the holiday of Shavuot
Drashot Maharal
Collection of sermons that the Maharal delivered to his congregation on Shavuot, Shabbat Shuva, and Shabbat HaGadol.
Gevurot Hashem
Commentary on the Exodus story and the Passover Haggadah.
Ner Mitzvah
Work discussing the four periods of exile from Israel, as well as spiritual and legal aspects of the Chanukah holiday.
Netivot Olam
Systematic work on living an ethical life, structured around 33 principles like humility and charity.
Netzach Yisrael
Work on exile, redemption, the messianic era, and the world to come.
Tiferet Yisrael
Work on the greatness of the Torah and the commandments.
Matteh Dan
18th-century work that follows the conversational style of Judah Halevi’s Kuzari and argues for the necessity and authenticity of rabbinic tradition.
Midrash HaIttamari
17th-century collection of sermons by Rabbi Eliyahu HaKohen of Smyrna
Nefesh HaChayim
Major 19th-century work of Rav Chaim of Volozhin on human purpose, God, Torah study, and prayer, incorporating kabbalistic elements.
Nineteen Letters
19th-century defense of Orthodoxy by R. Samson Raphael Hirsch, in the form of a fictional correspondence between a rabbi-philosopher and a young intellectual
On Resurrection of the Dead
17th-century work by Menasseh ben Israel defending traditional rabbinic views of immortality of the soul, reincarnation, and resurrection, in light of challenges posed by skeptics.
Parashat Derakhim
18th-century homiletical work by the chief rabbi of the Ottoman Empire and author of the Mishneh LaMelekh commentary on the Mishneh Torah.
Sefer HaHiggayon
18th-century work on logic by R. Moses Chaim Luzzatto, known as Ramchal.
Sefer HaMelitzah
18th-century work on rhetoric by R. Moses Chaim Luzzatto, known as Ramchal.
The Third Beit HaMikdash
18th-century work of Tosefot Yom Tov explaining the prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the Third Temple
Torat HaOlah
16th-century work of the Rema that analyzes the sacrifices and service in the Temple, blending philosophy and Kabbalah
About Acharonim
Acharonim (“the later ones”) were leading rabbis and thinkers who lived in the 16th through 19th centuries.
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