Vilna Gaon: Encyclopedia II - Vilna Gaon - Youth and education

Vilna Gaon - Youth and education

Born in Vilna (now Vilnius), Lithuania, he gave evidence of the possession of extraordinary talents while still a child. As young as three years old he had committed the Bible to memory. At the age of seven he was taught Talmud by Moses Margalit, rabbi of Kaidan and the author of a commentary to the Jerusalem Talmud, and was supposed to know several of the treatises by heart. The Vilna Gaon is well known for having possessed a photographic memory. By eight he was studying astronomy during lunch time. From the age of ten he continued his studies without the aid of a teacher. When he reached a more mature age Elijah wandered in various parts of Poland and Germany, as was the custom of the Talmudists of the time.

He returned to his native town in 1748, having even then acquired considerable renown; for when he was hardly twenty years old many rabbis submitted their most difficult halakhic difficulties to him for decision. Non-Jewish scholars sought his insights to mathematics and astronomy.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Youth and education", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki