Rabbi Meir ibn Gabbai, c. 5340-? (1480- ?) CE. Fled from the Spanish Inquisition.

Rabbi Yehuda Chayat , suffered terrible persecution at the hands of the Spanish Inquisition until he managed to flee to Venice and then Mantua. He is famous for his commentary — called Minchat Yehudah — on Maarechet HaElokut.

Rabbi Yosef Caro (or Karo), 4258-5335 (1488-1575 CE) Rabbi Yosef was born in Spain and fled the Inquisition with his family at the age of four. Settled in Safed, Israel. Author of Shulchan Aruch (Code of the Jewish Law) and a mystical work entitled Maggid Mesharim.

Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, c. 5260-5340 (c. 1500-1580 CE). Author of the mystical hymn Lecha Dodi.

Rabbi Moshe Alshich, (1508-1593). Author of a "Torat Moshe," a mystical commentary on the Torah.

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero (RaMaK), 5282-5330 (1522-1570 CE). Kabbalist in Safed. Author of several important Kabbalistic works, including Pardess Rimonim (completed at the age of 27), Sefer Eilimah Rabbati, Or Ne'erav, Or Yakar (a commentary on Zohar). Student of Rabbi Yosef Karo and Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz.

Avraham Galante, (2nd half of 16th Century CE). Close disciple of RaMaK. Wrote Yare'ach Yakar, a commentary on Zohar and Chesed l'Avraham.

Avraham Beruchim 5275-5353 (c. 1515-1593 CE). Born in Morocco and probably emigrated to Israel before 1565. Disciple of RaMaK and subsequently of Ari zal. Author of Tikunei Shabbat. Was said by the Ari zal to be a reincarnation of Jeremiah the Prophet

Rabbi Eliyahu daVidas d. c. 5353 (c. 1593 CE). Disciple of RaMaK; possibly studied under the Ari zal as well, whom he certainly knew. Wrote Reishit Chochmah a kabbalistic ethical treatise.

Maharal of Prague. Rabbi Yehudah ben Betzalel Loew c. 5285-5369 (c. 1525-1609 CE). His mystical writings include Be'er Hagolah; Netivot Olam; Tiferet Yisrael. He is also famous for having produced a golem (humanoid).

Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (Ari zal) 5294-5332 (1534-1572 CE). Born in Jerusalem, d. in Safed. Founder of a new school in Kabbala — so-called "Lurianic Kabbala." Studied with Rabbi Moshe Cordovero.

Eliezer Azikri 5313-5360 (1533-1600 CE). Author of Sefer Chareidim.

Rabbi Chaim Vital c. 5303-5380 (c. 1543-1620 CE). Major disciple of R. Isaac (Yitzchak) Luria, and responsible for publication of most of his works.

Rabbi Yisrael Sarug. A disciple of the Ari zal in Egypt and Israel. Wrote Limmudei HaAtzilut and other kabbalistic works.

Rabbi Binyamin haLevi disciple of Arizal. Sent as an emissary of the Ari zal to Italy to spread his kabbalistic teachings. Was the teacher of Rabbi Moshe Zacuto in Italy.

Shmuel Vital son of R. Chaim Vital. Lived in the 17th C. CE. He was born in Damascus and studied Kabbala under his father. When Rabbi Chaim Vital passed away, he inherited many of his father's manuscripts in the kabbalistic teachings of the Ari zal. He arranged these in eight categories, known as the Shemoneh Shaarim. He also wrote several kabbalistic works of his own. Rabbi Shmuel had many important students, among them Rabbi Yaakov Tzemach; Rabbi Meir Poppers. Towards the end of his life he moved to Egypt. He died in Cairo. For more detail see Encyclopedia l'Gedolei Yisrael (Margolius) (Hebrew).