Xth century CE

Gaon of the Land of Israel, opposed to Saadia in the calendar controversy of 922.

Masorite active in Tiberias in the first half of the 10th century, descendant of a family of masorites going back six generations to Asher the Elder. He established a manuscript of the Old Testament…

Karaite grammarian and Sage

Gaon of Pumbedita, opponent of Saadia Gaon.

Talmudist and liturgical poet born in Mérida around the beginning of the tenth century, died in Damascus around the year 970. After the death of his master Rabbi Moses « the prisoner of Bari » in…

Physician whose dates of birth and death are unknown, author in Hebrew of a medical work, "Mareot ha-Chetanim" (Aspects of the Urine), intended, according to its introduction, to guide young…

Jewish scribe

Karaite translator and biblical commentator, active in Jerusalem between 950 and 980, Japheth ha-Levi was nicknamed « maskil ha-Golah » (the master of the Exile) for the importance he placed, unlike…

Mathematician of uncertain date, author of a treatise on the quadrature of the circle preserved in manuscript at the British Museum. He claims to have found and demonstrated the possibility of…

Renowned liturgical poet, active in Oria, Italy, in the early 10th century. The only reliable source on his life, the « Chronicle of Ahimaaz » gives him as the son of Shephatia, who died towards the…

Younger daughter of the triumvir Marc Antoine and sister-in-law of Tiberius, friend of Bérénice, daughter of Salomé, and of her son, the future King Agrippa Ier. When Agrippa, ruined in Rome, returns…

One of two Judeo-Arab rabbis who, according to tradition, instructed the King of Yemen Aboû Karibah in Judaism — the other named Ka'b — both from the tribe of the Banou Qouraïza. Tabari, who reports…

Renowned physician and philosopher, born in Bukhara in 980, died in 1037. His works, having reached Spain about a hundred years after their publication, exert great influence on medieval Jewish…

One of the three disciples of Menahem ben Sarouk (end of the 10th century) who defended their master's honour against his detractor Dounash ben Labrat. Iehouda ben Sheshet, a disciple of Dounash,…

Palestinian Nassi of the first half of the tenth century, revealed by fragments found in several genizot. Introducing a new rule for fixing the "molad" of Tishri, he decreed that in the year 922,…

Little-known Karaite master of the tenth century, originally from the Persian province of Qumis, David al-Qumisi died in Jerusalem in the year 334 of the Hijra (945 of the common era); of his…

Karaite lexicographer of the 10th century from Fès, hence his epithet al-Fasi, David ben Abraham, active in the second half of the century, cites Saadia Gaon and composes in Arabic a biblical…

Karaite scholar of the tenth century, fifth descendant of Anan, founder of Karaism, David ben Boaz is mentioned by the Karaite chronicler al-Hiti in the year 383 of the Hijra (993 of the common era).…

Medieval Judeo-Arabic philosopher and controversialist

Poet and grammarian of Fez and then Córdoba, he introduced Arabic meter into Hebrew poetry, revolutionizing Jewish prosody. His controversy with Menahem ben Saruq over Hebrew grammar founded…

Philologist and poet of the 10th century, from a family of Bagdad but born in Fès, where he was a student of the gaon of Sura Saadia. He was the first to apply Arabic metrics to Hebrew poetry, an…

Scholar, physician and astronomer from Kairouan, disciple of Isaac Israeli, author of a commentary on the Sefer Yetsira. He contributed to comparative Hebrew grammar.

Karaite exegete of the Bible, probably active in Egypt in the 10th century. An advocate of the rigorous, ascetic and Sadducean doctrines of Anan, which he nevertheless contested on occasion, he…

Egyptian Talmudist active in the tenth and eleventh centuries, son of Shemaria b. Elhanan of Kairouan, who left Egypt when his son was already established there. He addressed numerous responsa to Haï…

11th-century French Tosafist

Jewish mathematician whom certain Muslim authors credit with establishing the Hebrew calendar. He is mentioned by Al-Biruni (972-1048) in his « Chronology of Ancient Nations », then by Al-Maqrizi…

Eminent Rabbi of Cordova, 950-1024. As a child, he accompanied his father, one of four scholars taken prisoner at sea and sold into slavery who became founders of talmudic schools in exile; his…

French rabbi born in Metz in 960, died in Mainz in 1040, founder of Talmudic studies in France and Germany. Established in Mainz, where he trained numerous students from all countries, he convened…

Hai ben Sherira was gaon of Pumbedita, born in 939 and died on March 28, 1038. Trained in the Talmud by his father Sherira, whose assistant and then coadjutor as « ab bet din » he became, he was…

Hananeel ben Ḥushiel is rabbi of Kairouan and biblical and talmudic commentator born in Kairouan around 990 and died, according to Abraham Zacuto, in 1050. Trained principally by his father Ḥushiel,…

Abraham al-Harselani is a Karaite scholar active in Babylonia in the 10th century, cited in the chronicle of al-Hiti for his controversies with the rabbinic authorities of his time, and mentioned as…

Ḥasan ben Mashiaḥ is a Karaite master of the ninth or tenth century who, according to Sahl ben Maṣliaḥ, engaged in public debate with Saadia Gaon and then wrote against him after his death; Ibn…

Physician and diplomat in the service of the Caliph of Córdoba, he was the first great patron of Jewish culture in Spain (Sefarad). His correspondence with the Khazar king Joseph is a unique document…

Ḥefeṣ ben Yaṣliaḥ, called Ḥefeṣ Alouf, is a halakist active toward the end of the tenth century, probably in Kairouan. He is the author of a Sefer ha-Miṣwot, now lost, which enumerates the 613…

Coming from Italy, led the yeshiva of Kairouan, introduced the Jerusalem Talmud there.

Karaite liturgical poet active in the first half of the tenth century, compiler of the prayer book « Tefillat Bene Miḳra », in which he inserted numerous poems and prayers of his own composition,…

Silk manufacturer in Cordoba, in a high position at the court of the caliph Hisham, died around the year 1000. With his brother Joseph, he offered the caliph and the powerful hajib al-Manṣur ibn Abi…

Vizier of the Caliph of Egypt Al-'Aziz Nizar, born in Baghdad in 930, died in Cairo in 990-991. Born to Jewish parents and himself professing Judaism during the first half of his life, he was sent as…

Oriental mathematician active in the late tenth century. In 997, the Jacobite Abu 'Ali 'Isa ibn Zara'ah addressed him a pamphlet against Judaism, in response to a work favorable to the Jews that he…

Jewish merchant-traveler of the tenth century, known through his own account of Slavic lands. Probably of North African origin, he crossed the Adriatic in 965, visited Prague and eastern Germany,…

Spanish grammarian born in 982 and died in Toledo around 1057-58, he was, according to Ibn Abi Uṣaibi'a, ordinary physician to the kings of Denia and trained in logic, Hebrew grammar and Jewish law;…

Jewish Neoplatonic physician and philosopher from Kairouan, one of the first medieval Jewish philosophical authors. His medical treatises were translated into Latin and studied in Europe.

Karaite scholar of the 10th century, with his full name Samuel ben Asher ben Manṣour, from the province of Jabal, near Hamadan. He refuted Saadia Gaon in a special writing, as well as a certain…

Gaon of Sura (911-924), appointed after the death of his predecessor Shalom bar Mishaël, at a time when the academy of Sura, impoverished, had been abandoned by most of its students, Jacob bar…

Syrian Talmudist of the 10th century, author, according to Salmon ben Yeroham, of a commentary on the Talmud of Jerusalem. The Karaite Joseph al-Ḳirḳissani mentions him in his "Ha-Ma'or ha-Gadol"…

Ifriqiyan Jewish philosopher and rabbi

Hebrew philologist of the tenth century, student of Dounash ben Labrat, Jehoudi ben Shéshet is known only through the polemic in which he defends his master against the students of Menahem ben…

Grammarian in Saragossa, author of Kitab al-Tanqih, first complete Hebrew grammar.

Philosopher and rabbi

Joseph ben Berekhia, rabbi of Kairouan and student of Jacob bar Nissim, lived in the tenth century. He maintained a learned correspondence with Haï Gaon, whom he consulted on halakhic decisions, one…

Joseph ben Jacob, called Bar Satya, was gaon of Soura from 930 to 936, then from 942 to 948. The exilarch David ben Zakkaï chose him to fill Saadia's place when the latter was dismissed, around 930;…

Gaon of Soura, rival and then predecessor of Saadia.

rabbi

French rabbi

Moroccan rabbi, exegete and philologist

Andalusian rabbi

Karaite grammarian and liturgical poet, died in Jerusalem, where he was head of yeshiva, in 932. He is the author of a grammar treatise, « Me'or 'Enayim », which divides Hebrew names into thirty-five…

Dogmatician and Karaite exegete, active in the first half of the tenth century, native of Circassia and great traveler through the centers of Muslim learning. In 937, he wrote in Arabic a work on the…

Gaon of Pumbedita, in conflict with the exilarch David ben Zakkaï.

Gaon of Pumbedita from 917 to 935. He obtained equal division of revenues between Sura and Pumbedita and confronted the exilarch David ben Zakkaï and then Mebasser ben Qimoï, rival gaon, in a schism…

Gaon of Pumbedita from 917 to 935. He obtained that the revenues, previously divided two-thirds in favor of Sura, be henceforth distributed equally between the two academies, and defended the…

Karaite Jewish scholar

French scholar of the tenth and eleventh centuries, born in Metz, brother of Gershom Me'or ha-Golah. He is known for his dictionary, the Alfa Beta de-R. Makir, today lost but often cited by Rachi,…

Karaite scholar, active in Egypt or Babylon in the first half of the 10th century, younger contemporary of Saadia Gaon whom he is said to have challenged in religious controversy. He wrote a…

Gaon of Pumbedita, rival of Kohen Tzedek for the geonicship.

Karaite philosopher and poet, born in Babylonia, contemporary of Saadia Gaon. He corresponds on philosophical subjects with David al-Muqammas, met in Babylonia, then travels to Alexandria, from where…

Spanish philologist of the tenth century, native of Tortosa, settled in Cordoba under the protection of Isaac, father of the future statesman Ḥasdaï ibn Shaprout. Recalled to Cordoba by Ḥasdaï after…

Hebrew lexicographer and grammarian of Córdoba, author of the Mahberet, the first dictionary of biblical Hebrew. He was secretary to Hasdai ibn Shaprut.

Founder of the study of the Talmud in Spain, died around 965. One of the scholars sent from Soura to collect funds, he is captured at sea by the Moorish admiral Ibn Roumahis, whose wife drowns…

Founder of talmudic study in Cordova, one of the « Four Captives ».

French scholar of the second half of the 10th century, the earliest known scholar of the city of Arles. Only a ruling on a halakhic question submitted to Kalonymos survives from him, probably the…

Babylonian historian of the tenth century, author of a history of the exilarchate rich in details about the exilarchs, in particular about his contemporary 'Ukba. Excerpts from it were published by…

Gaon of Pumbedita, predecessor of Sherira.

Gaon of Pumbedita from 960 to 968. While his predecessor Aaron b. Sargado was still in office, Nehemiah attempted in vain to have him removed, the college having refused and preferred to maintain…

Founder of an important Jewish banking house in Baghdad, highly influential at the court of the Abbasid caliphs. Under al-Muʿtaḍid, he is said to have thwarted the plan of a vizier to have many Jews…

Gaon of Kairouan, author of the talmudic commentary ha-Mafteah and the Hibbur Yafe.

Vizier of the Fatimid caliphs of Egypt Al-Mu'izz and Abd al-Mansour, active in the second half of the tenth century, known only through the Chronicle of Ahimaaz ben Paltiel. According to this…

Nicknamed "Light of the Exile" (Meor ha-Golah), he imposed revolutionary decrees (taqqanot) on Ashkenazi Judaism: the prohibition of polygamy, the prohibition of reading another's mail, and…

Scholar and poet of the tenth and eleventh centuries, probably brother of R. Nathan, the author of the "Aroukh". He wrote a commentary on the tractate Zera'im and a "yotser" of twenty-two verses for…

Karaite sage

Karaite philosopher and writer born in Jerusalem in 910. Attached to the Rechabites, he traveled the world to gain new followers to Karaism, distinguishing himself by his knowledge of biblical and…

Sons of Netira, they held important positions in Babylonian Jewish society and were patrons of the caliphate. During the 930 conflict between Exilarch David ben Zakkai and Saadia Gaon, they sided…

Salomon ben Jeremiah, Karaite exegete and polemicist, distinguished himself in Jerusalem between 940 and 960; the Karaites, who call him « the Sage », count him among their greatest authorities. In…

Liturgist of the tenth century, whose epithet "ha-Babli" most likely does not signify that he was originally from a Muslim country. He was the master of Meshoullam b. Ḳalonymos and belonged, it is…

Statesman, grammarian, poet and Spanish Talmudist, born in Córdoba in 993, died in Granada in 1055. Trained in rabbinic letters by Enoch and in Hebrew grammar by Judah Ḥayyuj, he emigrated in 1013,…

Vizier of the kingdom of Granada, poet, talmudist and military commander — the most powerful Jew of Muslim Spain. Unique in medieval Jewish history, he commanded the armies of a Muslim state while…

Medieval liturgical poet whose era and place of birth remain unknown. He composed a set of liturgical poems, the last four of which, noted by Zunz, were intended for the festival of Simhat Torah; he…

According to Genesis, Seth was the third son of Adam, born after the murder of Abel by Cain, when Adam was one hundred and thirty years old; he lived until nine hundred and twelve years and begat…

Physician and astronomer born in Oria, author of the Sefer Hakhmoni on the Sefer Yetsira.

Head of the yeshiva of Cairo, in Egypt, toward the end of the tenth century. According to Abraham ibn Daoud, he was one of four scholars captured at sea by an Arab admiral while traveling from Bari…

Head of the yeshivah of Cairo, Egypt

Simeon b. Isaac b. Aboun, called Simeon the Great, an eminent interpreter of the Law and one of the most important liturgical poets of the 10th and 11th centuries, originates from Mayence and is…

Rabbi, kabbalist, poet

French rabbi

Exilarch of Baghdad in the first half of the 10th century, second exilarch to die in exile. Entering into conflict with the gaon of Poumbedita Cohen Tsedek II over the revenues of Khorasan, he is…

Polish preacher of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, active in Lublin under the reign of Sigismond, to whom is attributed a collection of sermons entitled « Derashot ». Some sources identify…

German rabbi

Iraqi rabbi

German Talmudic Rabbi

Italian biblical commentator active in Rome in the tenth century, surnamed "of Magdiel" after the traditional identification of this biblical name with Rome. Young contemporary, perhaps disciple, of…

French Talmudist, liturgical poet and Tosafist

Rabbi, 10th century. Died in 4718 of the Hebrew era (958). Listed in Malkhei Rabbanan (Yosef Ben Naim, 1931), f. 58-1.

Gaon of Pumbedita from 936 to 938, at the time when Saadia had just been restored to the geonat of Sura after his excommunication. Nothing is known of his life or writings.