Jewish Leadership
The Geonim is the term used to describe the rabbinic leadership in Babylonia — the largest and primary Jewish community in the world. This is a period lasting approximately from the seventh century until the eleventh century (600-1,000 CE), some 400 years.
The word “Gaon” (pl. Geonim) was the title that was conferred upon the head of the academy in Babylon.
Context
The rise of Islam changed the history of the world and had a profound effect upon the Jewish people. Most of the Jews of that time, in the seventh century, lived in Babylonia and the Land of Israel. Both of those countries were overrun by the Muslims. The Persian-Parthian-Babylonian rulers were all not only dispossessed but converted by the sword to becoming Muslims. The attitude toward the Jews changed. It now became a Muslim attitude.
The coming of the Muslims to the Jewish populations of the Middle East was and is a mixed blessing. It changed the setup of the Jewish community and serves as an introduction to the period of the Geonim.
1. Literature type: Teshuvot or Responsa
ספר האשכול (אלבק) הלכות תשעה באב דף רטו עמוד א
ובתשובה לגאון [רבינו האי גאון] ז”ל, צומות האמורים בפסוק זה כה אמר ה’ צום הרביעי וצום החמישי וצום השביעי וצום העשירי כולן בטלו חוץ מת”ב דקאמרי’ אין שמד ואין שלום והוא בזמן הזה רצו מתענין <רצו אין מתענין>. ומקשי’ אי הכי ת”ב נמי, שני ת”ב הואיל והוכפלו בו צרות. מיכן שת”ב בלבד הוא דאיתיה [חובה] ואותן האחרים רצו מתענין [רצו אין מתענין].
The answer of the Gaon [Rabbeinu Hai Gaon], may his memory be for a blessing, is that the fasts spoken about in the verse:
"Thus said the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, all are cancelled except for the 9th of Av, as it is said, in times when there are neither persecution nor shalom so in these times people may fast or not, as they see fit."
And the position is challenged: "If that is so, then the 9th of Av also!"
This is different, for on the 9th of Av many misfortunes occurred. [Babylon destroyed the 1st Temple in 586 bce, and the Romans destroyed the 2nd Temple in 70 ce, both on the 9th of the month of Av.] From here we learn that only on the 9th of Av it is mandatory to fast; on the other days, people may fast or not, as they see fit.
Rabbi Hai (ben Sherira) Gaon, 939-1038, Pumbedita, Babylon as recorded in Sefer Ha-Eshkol by Rabbi Avraham Av Beit Din (Ravad II), 1085-1158, Provence, France
Chevruta Guide to Source #1
A. What question does this teshuva seek to answer (hint it is not stated explicitly)? What is the answer given?
B. How would you describe this type of literature? What does it remind you of? What role might it play in the Jewish community?
2. Literature type: Siddur or Prayerbook
(עד) בנין ירושלים
(עה) וְלִירוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִירְ֒ךָ בְּרַחֲמִים תָּשׁוּב וְתִשְׁכּוֹן בְּתוֹכָהּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ וּבְנֵה אוֹתָהּ בְּקָרוֹב בְּיָמֵֽינוּ בִּנְיַן עוֹלָם וְכִסֵּא דָוִד עַבְדֶּךָ, מְהֵרָה לְתוֹכָהּ תָּכִין: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלָֽיִם:
(עו) מלכות בית דוד
(עז) אֶת־צֶֽמַח דָּוִד עַבְדְּ֒ךָ מְהֵרָה תַצְמִֽיחַ וְקַרְנוֹ תָּרוּם בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ, כִּי לִישׁוּעָתְ֒ךָ קִוִּינוּ כָּל הַיּוֹם וּמְצַפִּים לִישׁוּעָה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מַצְמִֽיחַ קֶֽרֶן יְשׁוּעָה:
(74) PRAYER FOR JERUSALEM
(75) And to Jerusalem, Your city, return us in mercy, and dwell therein as You have spoken; and rebuild it soon, in our days, as an everlasting structure, and the throne of David, Your servant may You speedily establish therein.
Blessed are You, O God, Builder of Jerusalem.
(76) PRAYER FOR SALVATION
(77) The sprout of David, Your servant, speedily cause to flourish and exalt his power with Your deliverance, For Your deliverance we hope all day. and watch for Your deliverance.
Blessed are You, O God, Who causes to sprout the power of salvation.
...
Chevruta Guide to Source #2
A. This source is an excerpt from the daily prayers that Jews are commanded to pray 3 times every weekday (4 on Shabbat/the Sabbath). What are the advantages to set prayers? Why might the Geonim have decided to organize and set the Siddur in a regularized form instead of letting each Jew decide to pray what and whenever he or she might want to? (Fun fact: all the Jews throughout the world use the same structure the Geonim organized--Jews from India, Yemen, Egypt, Poland, America, Brazil, France, Persia, China, and throughout the world.)
B. Give your own title to each of these two prayers. What is the central value each one contains?