Joseph ben Ephraim Karo, Spanish-Portuguese rabbi and author (b. 1488)
Joseph ben Ephraim Karo, also spelled Yosef Caro, or Qaro (Hebrew: יוסף קארו; 1488 – March 24, 1575, 13 Nisan 5335 A.M.), was the author of the last great codification of Jewish law, the Beit Yosef, and its popular analogue, the Shulchan Arukh. To this end he is often referred to as HaMechaber (Hebrew: הַמְחַבֵּר, "The Author") and as Maran (Aramaic: מָרַן, "Our Master").