geonim | David Solomon

This third instalment of David’s overview series of Jewish History explores the years between 500 and 1000 CE, known as the period of the Geonim.

In this talk, David discusses:

· The geonim, including who they were and the significance of their spiritual authority

· The political leadership of the Reish Galuta

· The great academies of Sura and Pumbedita and their rivalries

· The decrees of Justinian

· The first attempted forced conversions

· Persecutions in Spain

· Wars between Byzantine and Sassanid Empires

· The Himyarite Kingdom

· The rise of Islam

· The conquest of Spain by the Moors in 711

· Umayyad Caliphate in Spain

· The slow shift from Babylonia – in two basic directions

· Nehemiah ben Hushiel

· Anan Ben David and the start of the Karaite movement

· The Khazars

· Charlemagne & Louis the Pious

· Amram Gaon and the beginnings of the siddur

· Hiwi of Balkh

· The decline and revival of Sura

· Saadya Gaon – the ultimate Gaon

· Rav Sherira Gaon and Rav Hai Gaon – the close of the Geonic period and the decline of Babylonian Jewry

· Chisdai Ibn Shaprut and Shmuel HaNagid – symbols of the Golden Age of Spain

· The rise of Hebrew grammar

· Rabbeinu Gershom – the father of Ashkenazi Jewry.

He explains how this period in Jewish History sees the laying of the foundations for modern Jewish life and the gradual shift in the centre of Jewish life from Babylonia to Europe. He also examines the geo-political context of this period and the influence of broader historical developments.