Isaac Alfasi

Isaac ben Jacob Alfasi haCohen also known as the Alfasi or by his Hebrew acronym Rif , was an Algerian Talmudist and posek . He is best known for his work of halakha, the legal code Sefer Hahalachot, considered the first fundamental work in halakhic literature. He was born in the Algerian city of Qalaat Beni Hammad, but spent the majority of his career in Fes, and is therefore known as Alfasi .

Alfasi was born in Qalaat Beni Hammad,160the capital city of the Hammadid rulers of central Maghreb. He studied in Kairouan, Tunisia under Rabbeinu Nissim ben Jacob, and Rabbeinu Chananel ben Chushiel the recognized rabbinical authorities of the age. Rabbeinu Chananel trained Alfasi to deduce and to clarify the Halakha from Talmudic sources, and Alfasi then conceived of the idea of compiling a comprehensive work that would present all of the practical conclusions of the Gemara in a clear, definitive manner. To achieve this goal, he worked for ten consecutive years in his fatherinlaws attic.

Source: Wikipedia