Jacob ben Hayyim Zemah

Jacob ben Hayyim Zemah was a 17th-century figure who made significant contributions to the fields of medicine and Jewish mysticism. Born in Portugal, he initially pursued a career in medicine, receiving training in his native country despite the challenges of being a Marrano. However, he eventually fled Portugal around 1619, seeking a new path in the Holy Land.

Zemah spent several years studying the Talmud and casuistic literature in Safed until 1625, before moving to Damascus to delve deeper into kabbalistic studies. For nearly two decades, he immersed himself in the teachings of the Zohar, as well as the works of prominent kabbalists Isaac Luria and Hayyim Vital. Ultimately, Zemah settled in Jerusalem, where he established a yeshivah dedicated to the study of the Zohar and other kabbalistic texts, attracting students such as David Conforte, who would go on to become a notable figure in his own right.