a nation in flux #9

the 9th century

Jewish life

• Trade, community and culture connects Jews
• Increased awareness of Jewishness leads to charlatans - Eldad HaDani
• Claimed he was from an independent Jewish state.

Eldad's story

• Kidnapped by Ethiopian cannibals, and was saved by another Jew from a lost tribe.
• Told "halachot" that were not according to the Gemara.
• Claimed to know the whereabouts of all the tribes.
• Christians tried to debunk him

Bavel

• Further conflicts between Reish Galusa and Geonim
• Jewish Community is divided between Jews and Karaites.
• Split between the Yeshivos: Sura and Pumpedisa

End of Reish Galuta

• 816CE: David and Daniel turn to the Caliph to resolve the question as to who should be in charge.
• The Caliph said he didn't care, and ruled that any 10 men would be recognized as an independent religion.

Pumpesida

• Debate who should be the Gaon - Rav Avraham (the Rosh Yeshiva) or Rav Yosef (the Av Beit Din)
• This ended when the announcement was made that the "Heads of the Academy" would deliver words of Torah.
• Rav Yosef resigned, and peace reigned in Pumpedisa.

Sura

• Sura was more prominent in Bavel; the Gaon of Sura was always held in higher esteem.
• 841: Rav Moshe bar Mar Yaakov Kahana dies, and the Reish Galusa did not appoint a new Gaon.
• In the interim, the RG diverted the Yeshiva Tax from Persia into his own pocket.

Ukba

• 842: Rav Kohen Tzedek is appointed and tries to get the money back.
• RG Ukba is replaced by the Caliph, but then reinstated by a later Caliph due to bribes
• Sura regains some former glory but is eclipsed by Pumpedisa.

Rav Natronai Gaon in Sura

• 853CE: Greatest source of Respona of the time period, transported by merchants.
• Should we hold tzitzit during Shma?
• What should a late comer say in shul?
• What to do about a Karaite who wants to become Jewish again?

Rav Amram gaon (857-875)

• Compiled the first published Siddur.
• Based on the known tradition from the Tanaim, Amoraim, and Geonim.
• Published both laws and text.

Rav Nachshon Gaon bar reb Tzadok

• Calendar was established in 359 by Hillel II.
• Discovered that that entire calendar repeats itself every 13 x 19 = 247 years.
• The is referred to as the Machzor of Rav Nachshon.

Rav Tzemach Gaon

• Published the first dictionary of the Talmud (Aruch)
• Arabic had replaced Aramaic.
• More than 300 entries, in addition to names and places.
• Rav Natan compiled another dictionary by the same name 200 years later.

The muslim world

• Muslims began to see the Caliphs more as pleasure seekers than divine servants.
• Caliph Al Mamoum recruits a Turkish garrison - they start an uprising.
• 847: Caliph Al-Mutawakkil builds the Great Mosque of Samarra
• 850: decree requiring Jews to wear a yellow hood and belt

Relocation of yeshivoT

• Sura and Pumpedisa lose funding due to immigration, and relocate to Bagdad.
• Within 3 centuries, there are no Jews in Sura at all.
• Bagdad is the largest Jewish city in the world.

Europe

• 814: Louis the Pious (son of Charlmene) Wrote a Charter giving Jews rights to own land, have Christian servants.
• Wrote a Charter giving Jews rights to own land, have Christian servants.
• Bodo, a Frankish deacon converts to Judaism. Takes the name Elazar.
• Angers the arch bishop, flees to Spain. Engages in the first Jewish/Christian debates in Cordoba (w/ Pablus Alvarus)

Jewish Communities

• Rav Moshe HaZaken and his son Kolonimus lead the community in Italy.
• Charles the Bald and Charles the Fat invite them to Germany to start a Yeshiva in Mainz.
• Rav Machir comes from Bavel to Provence.

Ashkenaz

• 10000 Jews in Ashkenaz grow in numbers and power.
• Will soon rise to prominince with Rabbeinu Gershom in 960.

Rav Saadia Al Fayumi

• Born in 892, and rises to immense prominence throughout the Jewish world.
• First important rabbinic figure to write extensively in Arabic.
• Emunot V'Deiot: first systematic presentation and philosophic foundation of the dogmas of Judaism.
• 928: Became Gaon in Sura:Bagdad