Ovadiah Seforno

Ovadiah ben Ya'akov Seforno was an Italian rabbi, biblical commentator, philosopher, halakhic authority, and physician, who wrote commentaries on a good portion of the Tanakh. After an early period of wandering, he settled in Bologna, where he founded a yeshiva. Seforno was held in high regard by his contemporaries, Maharam Padua and Maharik Kolon, and is also quoted in responsa of contemporary authorities who consulted him on issues of halakhah. Seforno was admired for the breadth of his knowledge by King Henry II of France to whom he sent a Latin translation he prepared of his philosophical work, Ohr Amim.