Rabbi Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, commonly known as the Vilna Gaon, was an influential Jewish scholar and leader in the 18th century. Born in 1720 in Vilnius, Lithuania, he became renowned for his deep knowledge of Jewish texts, including the Talmud and Kabbalah. His teachings emphasized a return to traditional Jewish practices and a rigorous study of religious texts. The Vilna Gaon was also a key figure in the Haskalah, or Jewish Enlightenment, advocating for education and intellectual engagement. He passed away in 1797, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire Jewish scholarship and practice today.