Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz

16th-century kabbalist and composer of the "Lekha Dodi" hymn recited on Shabbat eve. Born in Salonica, he studied under the great mysticist, R' Yosef Taitatzak. He emigrated to Israel in 1535 and settled in Safed, where he taught kabbalah to a distinguished group that included R' Moshe Alshikh, R' Yosef Karo, and R’ Alkabetz’s famous brother-in-law, R' Moshe Cordovero. He is the author of Manot HaLevi on Megillat Esther, as well as many other works.