Rabbi Moshe Isserlis (1520 - 1572) was an eminent Ashkenazic rabbi, talmudist, and posek, renowned for his fundamental work of Halakha (Jewish law), entitled ha-Mapah ("the tablecloth"), an inline commentary on the Shulkhan Aruch ("the set table"). He is also well known for his Darkhei Moshe commentary on the Tur. Rabbi Isserles is also referred to as the Rama, the Hebrew acronym for Rabbi Moses Isserles. Rabbi Isserles was born in Krakow. His father, Israel (known as Isserl), was a prominent talmudist, said to have been independently wealthy, and probably headed the community. His grandfather, Jehiel Luria, was the first rabbi of Brisk. He studied in Lublin under Rabbi Shalom Shachna, who became his father-in-law. Among his fellow pupils were his relative Solomon Luria (Maharshal), and Chayyim ben Bezalel, an older brother of the Maharal. The Rama's wife died young, at the age of 20 and he later established the "Rama Synagogue" in Krakow in her memory. He later married the sister of Joseph ben Mordechai Gershon Ha-Kohen.

Rabbi Isserles established a large yeshiva in Krakow in 1550. In 1553 he was appointed as dayan. He also served on the Council of the Four Lands. He became a world renowned scholar and was approached by many other well known rabbis, including Yosef Karo, for Halachic decisions. He was one of the greatest Jewish scholars of Poland, and was the primary halakhic authority for European Jewry of his day. Rabbi Isserles was also learned in Kabbalah, and studied history, astronomy and philosophy. He taught that "the aim of man is to search for the cause and the meaning of things". He also held that "it is permissible to now and then study secular wisdom, provided that this excludes works of heresy... and that one [first] knows what is permissible and forbidden, and the rules and the mitzvot" (Shulkhan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, 246, 4). Maharshal reproached him for having based some of his decisions on Aristotle. His reply was that he studied Greek philosophy only from Maimonides Guide for the Perplexed, and then only on Shabbat and Yom Tov - and furthermore, it is better to occupy oneself with philosophy than to err through Kabbalah (Responsa No 7).

Rabbi David ha-Levi Segal (1586 – 1667), also known as the Turei Zahav (abbreviated Taz) after the title of his significant halakhic commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, was one of the greatest Polish rabbincal authorities. Born in Ludmir, Rabbi Segal was the son of Samuel ha-Levi Segal. His chief Torah teacher was his older brother, Isaac. He became a reputed Talmudic scholar, and married the daughter of Rabbi Joel Sarkes of Brest, whom he frequently quoted in his works. After residing with his father-in-law and continuing his Torah studies for several years, Rabbi Segal and his family moved to Krakow. He was then appointed chief rabbi of Potelych, where he lived in great poverty. Later he went to Poznan, where he remained for several years. Around 1641 he became rabbi of the old community of Ostrog. There Rabbi Segal established a famous yeshiva, and was soon recognized as one of the great halakhic authorities of his time. In Ostrog, Segal wrote a commentary on Joseph Caro's Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah), which he published in Lublin in 1646. This commentary, known as the Turei Zahav ("Rows of Gold"), was accepted as one of the highest authorities on Jewish law. Thereafter, Segal became known by the acronym of his work, the TaZ.