a nation in flux #10

the 10th century

Bavel

• Sura and Pumpedisa relocate to Bagdad
• For lack of scholars in Bavel, a non-babylonian is appointed Gaon - Rav Saadya Gaon

Rav Saadya Gaon

• Born in 882, known as Al-Fayumi
• Left Egypt to learn in Israel, became known as a serious scholars
• By 20, wrote a dictionary with rules of Hebrew grammar
• Traveled for a number of years

back in egypt

• Took on the Karaites, and weakened their political power
• Wrote a commentary on Chumash that linked written and Oral Torah

The Calendar COntroversy of 922

• In Israel, leaders wished to assert prominence in the Jewish world.
• 922 Rabbi Aharon ben Meir says Pesach is on Sunday.
• Gaonim say it's on Tuesday.
• The debate was not resolved.

Rav Saadya's polemics

• Sided with the Jews of Bavel
• Went public with his research and earned public fame, eventually becoming the Gaon in Sura.
• Three years in, Rav Saadya disagrees with RG David Ben Zakai on a complicated monetary decision.

Controversy

• RG's son, Yehuda gets physical with Rav Saadya, and get thrown into the street.
• Rav Saadya proclaims the RG unfit to rule, puts him in Cherem and appoints his brother as RG.
• RG fires Rav Saadya, and appoints Rav Yosef.
• Caliph sides with RG and Rav Saadya flees.

In exile

• Caliph sides with RG and Rav Saadya flees.
• In exile, he writes Sefer Emunot v'Deot
• "What makes us a nation is the Torah."
• It was the first systematized work of philosophy.
• Sura closes in 940's

The mesora of torah

• Ben Naftali vs Ben Asher
• Some 700 differences
• Almost all are vowels.
• A few are letters.
• None change the meaning.

The Allepo Codex

• Ben Asher's text became known as the Keter Aram Tzovah.
• Rambam writes that this is the authoritative text.
• Ben Asher writes a book of grammar.

Donash ibn labrat

• Dror Yikra's author
• Student of Rav Saadya - argues extensively
• Poet Jewish and Secular
• Added Arabic meter to Jewish poems.

MENACHEM AND DONASH

• Menachem ibn Saruk (Machberet) - quoted by Rashi regularly
• Does Hebrew have 3 letter roots?
• Menachem's possible Karaite interpretations.

Ibn Hayyun

• Proved the notion of 3 letter roots. But this is still somewhat contentious.
• Rabbeinu Tam and Rabbi Kimchi debated this in the 13th century.

Rav chisdai ibn Shaprut

• 915CE - 990CE A renaissance man. Physician, diplomat, grammarian.
• Established the community in Cordoba.
• How?

The 4 captives

• 960 CE - 4 Rabbis set sail from Italy
• Pirates sieze the ship, and offered them for ransom along their way.
• Rav Chushiel in Kairouan. His son was Rabbeinu Channanel
• Rav Shmarya in Cairo
• Rav Nasan HaBavli to France

Cordoba

• Rav Moshe ben Chanoch, who's son Chanoch was ransomed as well by Cordoba.
• Sat in the Shiur of the Dayan of Cordoba, and answered all the questions.
• Rav Nasan, the Dayan resigned, and appointed Rav Moshe
• The pirate petitioned the Caliph to recoup the money

Chananya ibn hayyun

• The pirate petitioned the Caliph to recoup the money
• The pirate petitioned the Caliph to recoup the money
• Ibn Hayyun told the Caliph that Jews of Spain will be more loyal if they have their own leadership and the Caliph agreed.
• Rav Moshe established a Yeshiva, succeeded by Chanoch, and the Golden age of Spanish Jewry.

Spanish Judaism

• As Spain rose, Bavel declined.
• Money was not as available due to new Spanish Yeshivos.
• Umayyads made Bavel more dangerous. Pumpedisa begins it's serious decline.

Rav Sherira Gaon

• The only dynasty of the century in Pumpedisa.
• Succeeded by Rav Hai Gaon.
• Rav Sherira revived the Yarchei Kallah.
• 987CE - Wrote the Igeres Rav Sherira Gaon, the history of Oral Torah.
• Lived for 100 years, and died mysteriously.

the end of the Gaonim

• Rav Sherira ruled for 32 years, Rav Hai for 40 years.
• This concluded the end of the Gaonim.

Europe

• Yehuda ben Meir Sir Leontin establishes a Yeshiva in Mainz, later the Rebbe of Rabbeinu Gershom.
• Rav Meshulem ben Kaloniyum and Rav Amnon also live in the Rhinelands
• Western Europe begins to develop questions are sent to Ramla.

Rav Shimon Ben Yitzchak

• His son, Elchanan was kidnapped, baptized and raised Catholic
• Elchanan became the Pope
• His father needed an audience with the Pope on behalf of the Jewish people.
• The Pope beat Rav Shimon in a game of Chess.
• They both realized who they were.

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