Aaron ibn Sargado
Encyclopedia
Aaron ibn Sargado was a tenth century AD gaon
(Jewish religious leader) in Pumbedita
, Babylonia. He was a son of Joseph ha-Kohen.
According to the chronicle of Sherira, Sargado was gaon from 943 to 960; others declare he died in 942. He was successor to the gaon Hananiah
, the father of Sherira.
Not of a family of scholars, but an extremely wealthy merchant, he was elevated to the gaonate (presidency of a rabbinical academy) through the influence of his family. Caleb ibn Sargado, the determined opponent of Saadia, who spent 60,000 zuzim in order to bring about the deposition of the gaon of Sura
, was probably identical with Aaron, as Harkavy
has shown (see Seder 'Olam Zuṭṭa in "Anecdota Oxoniensia," ii. 83).
Four of Sargado's legal decisions on religious problems are preserved, and are printed in the collection, "Ḥemdah Genuza," Nos. 37-40. One of these, it appears, was the answer to an inquiry from Kairouan
.
Like his opponent Saadia
, Aaron was a Bible commentator, and parts of his commentary are extant in St. Petersburg. Abraham ibn Ezra
quotes some of his philosophical sayings.
Gaon (Hebrew)
Gaon originally referred in Ancient Hebrew to arrogance and haughty pride . Later became known as pride in general: whether good or bad . Today it may refer to:...
(Jewish religious leader) in Pumbedita
Pumbedita
Pumbedita was the name of a city in ancient Babylonia close to the modern-day city of Fallujah....
, Babylonia. He was a son of Joseph ha-Kohen.
According to the chronicle of Sherira, Sargado was gaon from 943 to 960; others declare he died in 942. He was successor to the gaon Hananiah
Hananiah
Hananiah may refer to:*Hananiah, son of Zerubbabel, exilarch*Hananiah of the Book of Daniel*Hananiah , 4th century BC, governor of Samaria under the Achaemenid Empire...
, the father of Sherira.
Not of a family of scholars, but an extremely wealthy merchant, he was elevated to the gaonate (presidency of a rabbinical academy) through the influence of his family. Caleb ibn Sargado, the determined opponent of Saadia, who spent 60,000 zuzim in order to bring about the deposition of the gaon of Sura
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
, was probably identical with Aaron, as Harkavy
Harkavy
Harkavy is surname which may refer to:* Abraham Harkavy , historian* Alexander Harkavy , writer* Yehoshafat Harkabi military historian...
has shown (see Seder 'Olam Zuṭṭa in "Anecdota Oxoniensia," ii. 83).
Four of Sargado's legal decisions on religious problems are preserved, and are printed in the collection, "Ḥemdah Genuza," Nos. 37-40. One of these, it appears, was the answer to an inquiry from Kairouan
Kairouan
Kairouan , also known as Kirwan or al-Qayrawan , is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate in Tunisia. Referred to as the Islamic Cultural Capital, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Arabs around 670...
.
Like his opponent Saadia
Saadia Gaon
Saʻadiah ben Yosef Gaon was a prominent rabbi, Jewish philosopher, and exegete of the Geonic period.The first important rabbinic figure to write extensively in Arabic, he is considered the founder of Judeo-Arabic literature...
, Aaron was a Bible commentator, and parts of his commentary are extant in St. Petersburg. Abraham ibn Ezra
Abraham ibn Ezra
Rabbi Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra was born at Tudela, Navarre in 1089, and died c. 1167, apparently in Calahorra....
quotes some of his philosophical sayings.