Years: 1741–1804
Primary city: Dubno
Rabbi Yaakov Kranz was a Lithuanian maggid and darshan, known as the Dubno Maggid for his itinerant preaching. His parables became a central vehicle for popular Torah exposition. His homiletic commentaries on Tanach, including Ohel Yaakov on the Chumash, Kol Yaakov on the Five Megillos, Kokhav mi-Yaakov on the haftaros, and Emet le-Yaakov on the Haggadah, systematized his use of mashal and nimshal to clarify complex passages and halachic issues. His posthumously published works circulated widely in the 19th century.