Rabbeinu Chananel

Chananel ben Chushiah, known as Rabbeinu Chananel, was born in Tunisia in the eleventh century. He was the student of one of the last Gaonim, and the first to write a complete commentary on the Talmud. The sections of commentary he wrote are included in the Vilna addition of the Talmud. His commentaries on the Torah are cited by Bachya ben Asher . He also wrote a variety of responsa and decisions on ritual laws.

 Not only was he a great Talmudist, but also a successful and therefore very wealthy businessman. He was the father of 9 daughters. Rabbeinu Chananel passed away in 1053.