Rasag • Saadia ben Yosef al-Fayyumi • Saadia al-Fayyumi
Rav Saadia Gaon
Era of the GeonimRav Saadia Gaon — Rav Saadia ben Yosef al-Fayyumi (882–942), known in short as Rasag — was a polymath: a decisor, a philosopher, a biblical exegete, a poet, and a linguist, and one of the greatest of the Geonim of Babylonia. He was born in Dilaz in the Fayyum district of Egypt, a…
Biography
Rav Saadia Gaon — Rav Saadia ben Yosef al-Fayyumi (882–942), known in short as Rasag — was a polymath: a decisor, a philosopher, a biblical exegete, a poet, and a linguist, and one of the greatest of the Geonim of Babylonia. He was born in Dilaz in the Fayyum district of Egypt, and at the age of 46 he was appointed head of the academy of Sura in Baghdad. The scope of his literary enterprise was vast: he composed books on halacha, on Hebrew grammar, on liturgical poetry, on biblical exegesis, and on Jewish philosophy. He was the first to treat the grammar of the Hebrew language systematically, and is considered the first of the medieval grammarians. He was the first to compose a systematic and comprehensive book of Jewish philosophy — The Book of Beliefs and Opinions — and the first to contend with the Karaites in literary and systematic terms. He translated the Torah into Arabic (the Tafsir) with commentary, and thus made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers. His language of writing was Judeo-Arabic, and he was among the first rabbis to write extensively in this language, and is therefore considered the founder of Judeo-Arabic literature. He died in Sura in Babylonia on 26 Iyar 4752 (942), at about the age of 60.
Life Story
Childhood
He was born in the village of Dilaz in the Fayyum district of Egypt, to his father Yosef al-Fayyumi, of a poor family. Already in his childhood he was revealed as a wondrous child. It is told that at the age of eleven he left his home and went to study Torah under the sages of Tiberias in the Land of Israel, and from there he continued to Babylonia. Already in his youth he stood out for his knowledge and his sharp mind, and composed early works on language and faith.
Teachers
He studied under the sages of Egypt, the Land of Israel, and Babylonia. Among his teachers was Ali ben Yehuda the Nazirite, one of the sages of Tiberias. He delved into the holy scriptures and into the philosophical literature of the Islam of his time, and was influenced by the Arabic grammarians in the field of language. He was a preeminent autodidact, and acquired most of his knowledge through rigorous self-study.
Students
He raised many disciples, chief among them his sons — Rav Sherira aluf and Rav Dosa Gaon — who continued his path in the academy. His disciples continued to disseminate his teaching in halacha, in biblical exegesis, and in philosophy, and influenced the generations of the Geonim after him.
Family
His father was Yosef al-Fayyumi, of a poor family in the Fayyum district. His sons were Rav Sherira aluf and Rav Dosa Gaon, who also served as Geonim and continued his Torah enterprise. His family was among the pillars of Torah in Babylonia after his death.
Key Events
At the age of 46 (928) he was appointed head of the academy of Sura in Baghdad — a position of the highest rank in the world of the Geonim. He contended with the Karaites, who rejected the Oral Torah, and composed systematic works against them. He struggled with Ben Meir over the fixing of the calendar, and thus defended the unity of the Hebrew calendar and the authority of the sages. He composed The Book of Beliefs and Opinions (933), the foundational book of systematic Jewish philosophy. He translated the Torah into Arabic (the Tafsir) with commentary, and thus made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers. He conducted difficult struggles at the head of the academy, and was even removed from his position for a time, but returned to lead the academy.
Miracles
A few legends were woven around the name of Rasag, including stories of his wondrous knowledge and his sharp mind already in childhood. It is told that he left his home at a young age and went to study Torah under the sages of the Land of Israel and Babylonia, and that he contended with sages and with sects in victory. These legends, though not documented in his own writings, reflect the admiration of the generations for his figure and his enterprise.
Influence
The influence of Rasag is felt in every field of Torah and thought. He laid the foundation for systematic Jewish philosophy, and his book The Beliefs and Opinions influenced all the sages of Israel who came after him — among them Maimonides. He was the first to treat the grammar of the Hebrew language systematically, and laid the foundation for the science of the Hebrew language in the Middle Ages. His struggle against the Karaites defended the Oral Torah and the unity of Israel. His translation into Arabic made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers, and opened the gate of Torah to many communities. The figure of Rasag — the sage, the leader, and the polemicist — became a model for the generations.
Death
He died in Sura in Babylonia on 26 Iyar 4752 (942), at about the age of 60, while still serving as the head of the academy of Sura. The place of his burial is disputed in tradition: some point to Sura, some to Mount Sinai, and some to the ancient cemetery in Safed. His memory is preserved in Israel as one of the greatest of the Geonim and as the founder of systematic Jewish philosophy.
Writings
The Book of Beliefs and Opinions
933Thought and Faith
The foundational book of systematic Jewish philosophy. It explains the foundations of the faith — the creation of the world, the unity of God, prophecy, free will and reward and punishment, the Torah from Heaven, and redemption — on rational foundations. It influenced all the sages of Israel who came after him, among them Maimonides.
Translation of the Torah into Arabic (Tafsir)
c. 900Translation and Commentary
A translation of the Torah into Judeo-Arabic, with a detailed commentary. It made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers, and opened the gate of Torah to many communities. One of the foundational works of biblical exegesis and of Judeo-Arabic literature.
Sefer HaAgron
c. 900Grammar
The foundational book of Hebrew grammar. The first to treat the grammar of the Hebrew language systematically, under the influence of the Arabic grammarians. Considered the first of the medieval grammarians.
Sefer HaMekach VeHaMemkar
c. 900Halacha
A work on monetary law and the laws of commerce. It explains the laws of buying and selling with precision and depth, and is characterized by the understanding of the talmudic sources.
Sefer HaGalui
c. 922Calendar
A work on the calendar and the sanctification of the new moon. It was written following his struggle with Ben Meir over the fixing of the calendar, and explained the foundations of the Hebrew calendar and the authority of the sages in the sanctification of the new moon.
Commentary on Sefer Yetzirah
c. 930Thought and Mysticism
A deep commentary on Sefer Yetzirah, one of the foundational works of Jewish mystical thought. It explains the secrets of creation and the foundations of language and the letters, and testifies to the delving of Rasag into the hidden.
Piyyutim and Selichot
c. 900Liturgy
Piyyutim and selichot for Sabbaths and festivals. He shaped the prayer rite of many communities, and saw piyyut as a means of educating the public and of strengthening the faith. One of the foundational works of Jewish liturgical poetry in the period of the Geonim.
Works against the Karaites
c. 900Polemic
Systematic works against the Karaites, who rejected the Oral Torah. The first to contend with the Karaites in literary and systematic terms, and thus to defend the Oral Torah and the unity of Israel.
His Way and Views
Torah Study
Rasag saw the study of Torah — revealed and hidden — as the calling of man in the world. He interpreted and translated the Bible, and thus made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers. He saw the Oral Torah as the foundation of the faith of Israel, and contended with the Karaites who rejected it. He held that the Torah should be studied through systematic inquiry, and that the Bible should be explained in peshat, in remez, and in reason. He saw the Hebrew language as a foundational tool for the understanding of the Torah, and composed Sefer HaAgron — one of the foundational works of Hebrew grammar.
Halacha
He was a Gaon and a central decisor. He composed books on halacha, chief among them Sefer HaMekach VeHaMemkar on monetary law. He insisted on precision in the sources, on understanding the reasons, and on correcting customs that were not well-founded. He saw in halacha the revelation of the divine will, and in its fulfillment the purpose of man. He struggled with Ben Meir over the fixing of the calendar, and thus defended the unity of the Hebrew calendar and the authority of the sages.
Faith
The faith of Rasag was whole and deep, and he sought to establish it on rational and systematic foundations. In his book The Beliefs and Opinions he explained the foundations of the Jewish faith — the creation of the world, the unity of God, prophecy, free will and reward and punishment, the Torah from Heaven, and redemption. He held that reason and Torah do not contradict one another, for both are from one source. He saw in the acceptance of the yoke of the kingdom of Heaven and in the fulfillment of the commandments the foundation of faith.
Ethics
Rasag saw the repair of traits and ethics as the foundation of divine service. In The Book of Beliefs and Opinions he devoted many chapters to traits and ethics, and explained the ways of repairing the soul. He demanded care in traits, and saw them as a condition for the fulfillment of the Torah and for the attainment of truth. He held that man is judged for his deeds and his traits, and that the Torah comes to repair the heart and the deed.
Customs
He enacted ordinances in prayer and in public customs. He composed many piyyutim for Sabbaths and festivals, and thus shaped the prayer rite of many communities. He saw prayer and piyyut as a means of educating the public and of strengthening the faith. He insisted on precision in the rite and on the correction of customs that were not well-founded.
Character
He was courageous, a leader, and a sage. He had the courage to stand for his faith and his path, even in the face of sects and opponents. He had a sharp mind and great knowledge, and the ability to lead and to contend. His figure became a model of a sage, a leader, and a polemicist.
Public Role
He led the Jews of Babylonia and the diasporas of Israel as the head of the academy of Sura. He contended with the Karaites, who rejected the Oral Torah, and thus preserved the unity of Israel and the tradition of the Torah. He struggled with Ben Meir over the fixing of the calendar, and thus defended the unity of the Hebrew calendar. He made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers through his translation, and thus strengthened the bond between the communities and the Torah.
Famous Quotes
"Our nation, the nation of Israel, is not uprooted except through the Torah"
"And without this Torah — we would not be distinguished from the nations"
"Reason and Torah do not contradict one another, for both are from one source"
Famous Stories
Rasag contended with the Karaites, who rejected the Oral Torah and fixed the calendar on their own. He composed systematic works against them, and explained the foundation of the Oral Torah and the authority of the sages. This struggle defended the unity of Israel and the tradition of the Torah, and made him the first to contend with the Karaites in literary and systematic terms.
Rasag struggled with Ben Meir over the fixing of the calendar. Ben Meir sought to fix the sanctification of the new moon according to the sighting of the moon in the Land of Israel, and thus to harm the unity of the calendar. Rasag went out against him, and explained the foundations of the Hebrew calendar and the authority of the sages in the sanctification of the new moon. In his book Sefer HaGalui he explained the foundations of the calendar, and thus defended the unity of the Hebrew calendar for all the diasporas of Israel.
Rasag translated the Torah into Judeo-Arabic, with a detailed commentary. He thus made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers, who did not know Hebrew, and opened the gate of Torah to many communities. This translation — the Tafsir — became a foundational book in the communities of Israel in the lands of Islam, and influenced generations of biblical exegetes and translators. The vision of Rasag — making the Torah accessible to all speakers of the languages — influenced many generations.
Students
Teachers
Grave Site
Grave Details
- Grave Name
- Tomb of Rav Saadia Gaon
- City
- Safed (per later tradition)
- Country
- Israel
Timeline
Birth in Dilaz, Fayyum district, Egypt
Leaving home and going to study under the sages of Tiberias and Babylonia
Early works on language and faith; Sefer HaAgron
Struggle with Ben Meir over the fixing of the calendar; Sefer HaGalui
Appointment as head of the academy of Sura in Baghdad
Composition of The Book of Beliefs and Opinions
Commentary on Sefer Yetzirah; works against the Karaites
Death in Sura, Babylonia
Legacy
The legacy of Rasag is felt in every field of Torah and thought. He laid the foundation for systematic Jewish philosophy, and his book The Beliefs and Opinions influenced all the sages of Israel who came after him — among them Maimonides. He was the first to treat the grammar of the Hebrew language systematically, and laid the foundation for the science of the Hebrew language in the Middle Ages. His struggle against the Karaites defended the Oral Torah and the unity of Israel. His translation into Arabic made the Torah accessible to Arabic speakers, and opened the gate of Torah to many communities. His piyyutim and selichot shaped the prayer rite of many communities. The figure of Rasag — the sage, the leader, and the polemicist — became a model for the generations, and his memory is preserved in Israel as one of the greatest of the Geonim and as the founder of systematic Jewish philosophy.