Gaon (Hebrew)
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Gaon (gā'ōn) (Hebrew גאון) (plural geonim — gĕ'ōnīm) may have originated as a shortened version of "rosh yeshivat ge'on Ya'akov", although there are other proposed explanations.[1][2] It referred in Ancient Hebrew to arrogance and haughty pride (Amos 6:8).[citation needed] Later became known as pride in general: whether good or bad ('Pride [of]'; Late medieval and modern Hebrew for 'genius'). Today it may refer to:
- One of the Geonim, that is to say the heads of the two major academies, at Pumbedita and Sura, and later in Baghdad, during the period 589-1040. Prominent Geonim include:
- Sar Shalom
- Natronai II, Gaon of Sura (Gaon to 857)
- Amram Gaon, Gaon of Sura (Gaon 857-875)
- Hai Gaon
- Saadia Gaon
- Sherira Gaon
- Yehudai Gaon
- Samuel ben Hofni
- An honorific title given to a few leading rabbis of other countries in the same period, such as:
- Nissim Gaon (990-1062)
- Specific rabbis of later periods, called "gaon":
- The Vilna Gaon
- The Rogatchover Gaon
- The Steipler Gaon
Many great Rabbis (e.g., Rabbi Yosef Kapach),[3] although not formally referred to as the "Gaon of ...", are nonetheless sometimes lauded with this honorific as a mark of respect, and as a means to indicate greatness.
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />See also
<templatestyles src="Dmbox/styles.css" />
If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Jewish Virtual Library — Gaon
- ↑ "ידיד נפשי המנוח הדגול, שייף עייל שייף נפיק, הגאון הגדול רבי יוסף קאפח זצ"ל." — Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in the Hebrew responsa book שו"ת הריב"ד קאפח, quoted in עלון אור ההליכות גליון חודש תמוז התשס"ט (page 3).
