The Vilna Gaon (April 23, 1720 - October 9, 1797) was a prominent rabbi, Talmud scholar, and Kabbalist. Born Elijah (Eliyahu) ben Shlomo Zalman, he is commonly referred to in Hebrew as "ha'Gaon ha'Chasid mi'Vilna", meaning "the saintly genius from Vilna", or in similar forms (Gaon of Vilna, Gaon mi Vilno, or Vilna Gaon), and as "the Gra" (a Hebrew acronym of "Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu"). Wikipedia
Vilna, Lithuania Description Rabbi Elijah wrote in a style that was estremely concise, full of abbreviations. www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/TalmudMap/ShA/ShAGra.html
The definitive Wikipedia entry for Vilna Gaon. Wikipedia is the biggest multilingual free-content encyclopedia on the Internet. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilna_Gaon
The commemoration of the 200th yahrzeit of the Vilna Gaon (19 Tishrei, 1797-1997) last year saw the transformation of the Gaon from unrivaled Torah scholar and pietist to Lithuanian national hero. www.ou.org/publications/ja/5759winter/leiman.htm
The Gaon applied to the Talmud and rabbinic literature proper philological methods. He made an attempt toward a critical examination of the text; and thus, very often with a single reference to a parallel passage, or with a textual emendation, he overthr www.hareidi.org/en/index.php/Vilna_Gaon
