DAVID BEN ZAKKAI [i] — DAVID BEN ZAKKAI , exilarch in Iraq, 917–40. David became exilarch during a period of severe controversy, some five years after his uncle, ukva , had been removed from his position by the [i]rosh yeshivah of Pumbedita, kohen zedek , and his… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
DAVID BEN BOAZ — (also called David ha Nasi or Abu Saʿīd David ben Boaz; 10th–11th centuries), Karaite scholar. According to Karaite tradition, David was a fifth generation removed from anan b. david b. boaz . It is reported that his father died a martyr. One… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
DAVID BEN SAMUEL — (d. after 1201), exilarch in baghdad before 1195, although he is only mentioned as such from 1197. David succeeded his father, Samuel of Mosul, who held the position from 1175 to 1190. He secured his appointment only with some difficulty. The… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
MEVORAKH BEN SAADIAH — (11th century), nagid and leader of the Jewish community in Egypt. Mevorakh was a descendant of a family of scholars and physicians, and was himself a distinguished scholar; therefore, he is referred to in letters as Sanhedra Rabba ( member of… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
David ben-Zakkai — (10th century) Babylonian exilarch 917–40. David is best known for his struggle with SAADIAH BEN JOSEPH, whom David himself had appointed gaon of the famous Sura academy. The dispute started with Saadiah Gaon’s refusal to ratify a halachic… … Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament
ALFASI, DAVID BEN ABRAHAM — (Ar. Abu Suleiman Dāʾūd ibn Ibrahim Al Fāsī; tenth century), Karaite grammarian and commentator. Alfasi, who came from Fez, Morocco, spent a number of years in Ereẓ Israel where he composed a Hebrew Arabic lexicon of the Bible (Kitāb Jāmiʿ al… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
IBN AL-HĪTĪ, DAVID BEN SE'ADEL — (mid 15th century), Karaite chronicler. As his surname indicates, Ibn al Hītī was a native of the ancient town of Hit in Iraq, some 90 miles (150 km.) west of Baghdad. He himself lived and studied in Egypt. Nothing else is known about his life.… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
ABUDARHAM, DAVID BEN JOSEPH — (14th century), liturgical commentator in Spain, author of Sefer Abudarham, written in 1340 in Seville. Abudarham came from a distinguished family, and apparently an earlier namesake was a communal leader in Toledo. Abudarham was moved to write… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
Saadiah ben-Joseph — (882–942) Gaon of Sura 922–42. Saadiah was the most eminent of the geonim, and was instrumental in saving rabbinic Judaism from the dangers of sectarianism which gravely threatened it at that time. Saadiah was born in Egypt. At the age of… … Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament
SAADIAH (Ben Joseph) GAON — (882–942), greatest scholar and author of the geonic period and important leader of Babylonian Jewry. Saadiah was born in Pithom (Abu Suweir), in the Faiyum district in Egypt. Little is known about his family except that his opponents slandered… … Encyclopedia of Judaism
