Rav Saadia Gaon

Rabbi Saadia ben Joseph, known by the appellation Rav Saadia Gaon (Gaon, meaning light, was the honorific title given to the religious leader of the Jewish community in Babylon) is best known in history as a philosopher, and as a powerful opponent of Karaitism*. These were, however, simply a relatively small part of his monumental scholastic achievements.

Born in the Fayyum region of Northern Egypt in 882 C.E., Rav Saadia Gaon published Ha’Agron, a Hebrew reference dictionary, when he was just 20 years old. Three years later, in addition to moving to Palestine, Rav Saadia Gaon wrote his first work disputing the Karaite movement.

Rav Saadia Gaon’s rise to leadership came after he successfully refuted Rabbi Aaron ben Meir, the leader of Palestinian Jewry, when Rabbi Aaron tried to alter the calendar and have Passover observed three days earlier than determined by the calendar established by Anshei Knesset Hagdolah, Men of the Great Assembly. Following this incident, Rav Saadia Gaon became the head of the Talmudic Academy in Sura, Babylonia. Two years into his tenure, however, Rav Saadia Gaon had a falling out with the Exilarch (the political leader of the Babylonian Jewish community) and moved to Baghdad for seven years. While living in Baghdad, Rav Saadia Gaon continued his prolific writing and scholarship. During this time he completed his philosophical and theological masterpiece Emunoth v’Deoth, Book of Doctrines and Beliefs. After Rav Saadia Gaon and the Exilarch were reconciled, Rav Saadia Gaon returned to Sura and remained there until his death on the 26th of Iyar in 942 C.E. This coming Shabbat is the 26th or Iyar.

Rav Saadia Gaon was an important figure in Jewish history for many reasons. He lived at a time when the world of learning focused on philosophy, and so he wrote about Judaism in philosophical terms. Additionally, his use of Arabic as a language of Jewish scholarship made Torah accessible to Jews across the Medieval world, both in his day and for centuries to come.

*Karaitism: a Jewish religious movement that repudiated oral tradition as a source of divine law (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Copyright © 2025 NJOP. All rights reserved.