Rama mi-Fano

R. Menachem Azariah of Fano (Rama mi-Fano, 1548-1620) was the paramount Italian Lurianic kabbalist of the post-Arizal generation and the principal transmitter of Lurianic Kabbalah from Tzfat into European Sephardic-Italian intellectual life. He received the Lurianic tradition from R. Yisrael Sarug and built around himself the most important Italian kabbalistic circle of the era.

His Asarah Ma'amarot (Ten Discourses) is a kabbalistic-philosophical synthesis that introduced Lurianic concepts to a wide European audience; his Kanfei Yonah, Yonat Elem, and Pelach HaRimon spread the Sarugian-Lurianic doctrine through Italy and beyond. He was a wealthy supporter of yeshivot in Italy and Eretz Yisrael; his Mantua-area printing house produced editions of major kabbalistic works.