''Shem HaGedolim''

This is one of the classics for which the Chida (Rabbi Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai) is famous in traditional (as well as estranged) Jewish circles alike.  There is a story behind this 'book of stories' which makes the creation of this tome the more legendary than many of his other great works. The story is told of how, upon landing in Livorno he was imprisoned for one night (or two) on suspicion of being a spy.  Sitting as he was in this damp dungeon, without his beloved Seforim (study books), he was forced to learn by heat, which - in those scary circumstances - was quite a difficult feat.  In order to alleviate his anguished position and elevate himself from his fear of the unknown, he started compiling in his mind a list of all the worthy personalities and their written works that made the Jewish people proud throughout their long and arduous journey through history.  When he was released from custody, following extensive intervention by the local Jewish community, he committed the list from his memory onto paper.  What resulted was no less than a veritable repository of history, genealogy and discussion that spanned nearly five thousand years!

His notes were published in four booklets, comprising two sections, under the titles ''Shem HaGedolim'' (The Name of the Great Ones), containing the names of authors, and ''Wa'ad la‑Ḥakamim'' (Assembly of the Wise), containing the titles of works. This treatise has established for Azulai a lasting place in Jewish literature. It contains data that might otherwise have been lost, and it proves the author to have had a critical mind. By sound scientific methods he investigated the question of the genuineness of [[Rashi]]'s commentary to ''[[Books of Chronicles|Chronicles]]'' or to some Talmudic treatise (see "Rashi," in ''Shem HaGedolim''). However, he does assert that Rashi indeed is the author of the "Rashi" commentary on [[Neviim]] and [[Ketuvim]], contrary to others' opinions.