Rabbi Yaakov Culi
Rabbi Yaakov Culi (1689-1732) was a prominent rabbinical scholar and one of the greatest Sephardic sages of his time. Born in Jerusalem, he is best known for his work 'Me'am Lo'ez,' a comprehensive commentary on the Hebrew Bible. The 'Me'am Lo'ez' was written in Ladino, the Judeo-Spanish language, to make the complex ideas of the Torah accessible to the laymen of his community.
Rabbi Culi's work on the 'Me'am Lo'ez' began in 1730, and it was intended to cover the entire Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). However, Rabbi Culi passed away in 1732, having completed only the first volume on the Book of Genesis. His work was highly esteemed for its clear style and the inclusion of midrashic, halachic, and aggadic material, making it a valuable resource for Jewish education.
After his death, the project of completing the 'Me'am Lo'ez' was continued by other Sephardic rabbis. The series was eventually completed over the next two centuries by various authors. Rabbi Culi's pioneering efforts in creating a comprehensive and accessible Torah commentary have left a lasting legacy in the study of Jewish texts.