Sura Academy (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: ישיבת סורא) was a Jewish

yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are s ...

located in

Sura A ''surah'' (; ar, سورة, sūrah, , ), is the equivalent of "chapter" in the Qur'an. There are 114 ''surahs'' in the Quran, each divided into '' ayats'' (verses). The chapters or ''surahs'' are of unequal length; the shortest surah ('' Al-K ...

Babylonia Babylonia (; Akkadian: , ''māt Akkadī'') was an ancient Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in the city of Babylon in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq and parts of Syria). It emerged as an Amorite-ruled state c. ...

. With

Pumbedita Academy Pumbedita Academy or Pumbedita Yeshiva ( he, ישיבת פומבדיתא; sometimes ''Pumbeditha'', ''Pumpedita'', ''Pumbedisa'') was a yeshiva in Babylon during the era of the Amoraim and Geonim sages. It was founded by Judah bar Ezekiel (220– ...

, it was one of the two major Jewish academies from the year 225 CE at the beginning of the era of the Amora sages until 1033 CE at the end of the era of the

Gaonim ''Geonim'' ( he, גאונים; ; also transliterated Gaonim, singular Gaon) were the presidents of the two great Babylonian Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita, in the Abbasid Caliphate, and were the generally accepted spiritual leaders o ...

. Sura Yeshiva Academy was founded by the Amora

Abba Arika Abba Arikha (175–247 CE; Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: ; born: ''Rav Abba bar Aybo'', ), commonly known as Rav (), was a Jewish amora of the 3rd century. He was born and lived in Kafri, Asoristan, in the Sasanian Empire. Abba Arikha establishe ...

("Rav"), a disciple of

Judah ha-Nasi Judah ha-Nasi ( he, יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא‎, ''Yəhūḏā hanNāsīʾ‎''; Yehudah HaNasi or Judah the Prince) or Judah I, was a second-century rabbi (a tanna of the fifth generation) and chief redactor and editor of the ''Mi ...

. Among the well-known sages that headed the yeshiva were

Rav Huna Rav Huna (Hebrew: רב הונא) was a Jewish Talmud, Talmudist and Exilarch who lived in Babylonia, known as an Amoraim, amora of the second generation and head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia, Academy of Sura; he was born about 216 (212 ...

Rav Chisda Rav Ḥisda ( he, רב חסדא) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Kafri, Asoristan in Lower Mesopotamia near what is now the city of Najaf, Iraq. He was an amora of the third generation (died c. 320 CE at the age of ninety-twoMoed Kattan 28a), ...

Rav Ashi Rav Ashi ( he, רב אשי) ("Rabbi Ashi") (352–427) was a Babylonian Jewish rabbi, of the sixth generation of amoraim. He reestablished the Academy at Sura and was the first editor of the Babylonian Talmud. Biography According to a trad ...

Yehudai Gaon Yehudai ben Nahman (or Yehudai Gaon; Hebrew: יהודאי גאון, sometimes: Yehudai b. Nahman) was the head of the yeshiva in Sura from 757 to 761, during the Gaonic period of Judaism. He was originally a member of the academy of Pumbedita, b ...

, Natronai Gaon,

Saadia Gaon Saʻadiah ben Yosef Gaon ( ar, سعيد بن يوسف الفيومي ''Saʻīd bin Yūsuf al-Fayyūmi''; he, סַעֲדְיָה בֶּן יוֹסֵף אַלְפַיּוּמִי גָּאוֹן ''Saʿăḏyāh ben Yōsēf al-Fayyūmī Gāʾōn''; ...

, and others.

History

Rav (

Abba Arikha Abba Arikha (175–247 CE; Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: ; born: ''Rav Abba bar Aybo'', ), commonly known as Rav (), was a Jewish amora of the 3rd century. He was born and lived in Kafri, Asoristan, in the Sasanian Empire. Abba Arikha establishe ...

) arrived at Sura city to find no lively Jewish religious public life, and since he was worried about the continuity of the Jewish community in

, he left his colleague

Samuel of Nehardea Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba, often simply called Samuel (Hebrew: שמואל) and occasionally Mar Samuel, was a Jewish Amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Yeshiva at Nehardea, Babylonia. He was a teacher ...

Nehardea Nehardea or Nehardeah ( arc, נהרדעא, ''nəhardəʿā'' "river of knowledge") was a city from the area called by ancient Jewish sources Babylonia, situated at or near the junction of the Euphrates with the Nahr Malka (the Royal Canal), one ...

and began working to establish the yeshiva that would become Sura Academy. Upon Rav's arrival, teachers from surrounding cities and towns descended upon Sura. The Academy of Sura was formally founded in the year 225 CE, several years after Rav's arrival. Sura Academy would eventually grow to include a faculty of 1200 members and included the following features: *''Eksedrah'' (), a covered walkway leading from the street up to the house of learning *''Kiton'' (), offices for the rabbis and deans and classrooms for teachers *''Ginatah'' (), garden whose produce fed the academy's teachers and students *''Tsipi'' (), flat mats placed on the floor, where teachers and students could rest between classes Sura Academy soon became the most influential yeshiva in its region, besting the

Nehardea Academy Nehardea Academy (Hebrew: ישיבת נהרדעא; Previously also named: Beth Hamidrash/The College /The House of Study Aramic: ''בי מדרשא'' ">Aramic.html" ;"title="Aramic">Aramic: ''בי מדרשא'' or The Boundary Aramic: ''תחומא ...

. The academy's classes were occasionally held at

Matha-Mehasia Sura ( syr, ܫܘܪܐ) was a city in the southern part of the area called by ancient Jewish sources Babylonia, located east of the Euphrates. It was well-known for its agricultural produce, which included grapes, wheat, and barley. It was also ...

(), a suburb of Sura city, and after a while a

Torah The Torah (; hbo, ''Tōrā'', "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the s ...

center was founded there as well.

List of Sura academy's Deans

Amora era

("Rav") (founder of the academy) *

(

Rosh yeshiva Rosh yeshiva ( he, ראש ישיבה, pl. he, ראשי ישיבה, '; Anglicized pl. ''rosh yeshivas'') is the title given to the dean of a yeshiva, a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primar ...

, after Rav, for about 40 years) *

Maremar Maremar (Hebrew: מרימר) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the sixth generation of amoraim (late 4th-early 5th centuries). Biography He was close to Mar Zutra. They constructed synagogues together, would both give sermons following the shacharit pray ...

* Idi ben Abin (II) * Nachman ben R. Huna * Mar ben R. Ashi (Tabyomi) *

Rabbah Tosafa'ah Rabbah Tosafa'ah ( he, רבה תוספאה or he, רבא תוספאה) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the eighth generation of amoraim. Biography Opinions differ on the origin of his second name, "Tosefa'ah", seemingly from the Aramaic word ''tosef ...

Ravina II Ravina II or Rabina II (Hebrew: רב אבינא בר רב הונא or רבינא האחרון; died 475 CE or 500 CE) was a Babylonian rabbi of the 5th century (seventh and eighth generations of amoraim). He, along with his teacher Rav Ashi, wer ...

Savora era

Rav Ena Rav Ena ( he, רב עינא, read as ''Rav Ena'') was a Jewish Savora sage of the second generation of the Savora era. He headed the Sura (city), Sura academy and was a counterpart of R. Simuna, head of the Yeshiva in Pumbedita. According to the '' ...

Gaonim ''Geonim'' ( he, גאונים; ; also transliterated Gaonim, singular Gaon) were the presidents of the two great Babylonian Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita, in the Abbasid Caliphate, and were the generally accepted spiritual leaders o ...
era The list names in accordance with Hebrew Wikipedia; &
Jewish Encyclopedia ''The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day'' is an English-language encyclopedia containing over 15,000 articles on th ...

GaonSynchronistic List of the Geonim of Sura and Pumbedita
/ref>The list names is also based on "Jews in Islamic countries in the Middle Ages",
Moshe Gil Moshe Gil ( he, משה גיל; February 8, 1921 – January 23, 2014) was an Israeli historian. Academic career Moshe Gil specialized in the historical interaction between Islam and the Jews, including the history of Palestine under the Islamic ...
, p. 404 - A Chronological List of the Geonim of Sura and Pumbedit

/ref>The list dates are in accordance with the work of Prof.
Moshe Gil Moshe Gil ( he, משה גיל; February 8, 1921 – January 23, 2014) was an Israeli historian. Academic career Moshe Gil specialized in the historical interaction between Islam and the Jews, including the history of Palestine under the Islamic ...
, "Kingdom of Israel in the Gaonic era", 1997 . Some of the information concerning the dates are based on factual sources, however, some are based on premises, in the absence of authoritative sources or due to contradiction between sources. There is a dispute among the scholars concerning some of the dates, and not all is agreed upon.

* Mar ben Huna, Mar ben R. Huna - 591 * R. Hanina (Hananiah, Hinenai) - around 610 * Rav Hunai (Huna) - around 650 * Rav Sheshna (Sheshua, Mesharsheya b. Tahlifa) - around 670 *

Hanina of Nehar Pekkod Rav Hanina (or Hananiah, sometimes spelled: Hananyah; he, רב חנינא or ) was second and third generation Amora Sage of the Land of Israel. Biography He was a student of Rabbi Yannai and R. Yochanan bar Nafcha. He was the scion of a f ...

(Hananiah, Hinenai, Ha-Kohen, of Nhr

iver Iver is a large civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England. In addition to the central clustered village, the parish includes the residential neighbourhoods of Iver Heath and Richings Park. Geography, transport and economy Part of the 43-square- ...

Paqod) - 689-694 * Hillai of Naresh (Nehilai, Ha-Levi) - 694-712 *

Jacob of Nehar Pekod Jacob HaKohen of Nehar Peḳkod (Hebrew: רבי יעקב הכהן מנהר פקוד ) was the Gaon of Sura from 712-730. Born in the late 7th century, Jacob was one of several community members who settled in Nehar Pekod Nehar Peḳod (Hebrew: � ...

(Ha-Kohen, Nhr Paqod) - 712-730 * Rav Samuel Gaon (of Pumbedita) (Rabba's grandson, descendant of Amemar) - 730-748 *

Mari ha-Kohen of Nehar Pekod Mari may refer to: Places *Mari, Paraíba, Brazil, a city * Mari, Cyprus, a village *Mari, Greece, a village, site of ancient town of Marius * Mari, Iran (disambiguation), places in Iran * Mari, Punjab, a village and a union council in Pakistan ...

(Nahr Paqod)- 748-756 * Rav Aha Gaon - 756 * Yehudai ben Nahman (

, Judah) (Author of Halakhot Pessoukot) - 757-761 * Ahhunai Kahana ben Papa (Ahunai, Huna, ha-Kohen) - 761-769 * Haninai Kahana ben R. Huna (Hanina, ha-Kohen, Ahunai) - 769-774 * Mari ha-Levi ben R. Mesharsheya - 774-778 * Bebai ha-Levi ben R. Abba of Nehar Pekod (Biboi, Nahr Paqod) - 778-789 * Hilai ben R. Mari (Hillai) - 789-798 * Jacob ha-Kohen ben Mordecai (Mordechai) - 798 *

Rav Abimai ''Rav'' (or ''Rab,'' Modern Hebrew: ) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah; a Jewish spiritual guide; or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (1:6) states that: The term ''rav'' is also Hebrew (language), Hebrew for ''rabbi' ...

(Abumai, Ikhomai, ha-Kohen) (brother of R. Mordecai) - 815 * Zadok ben R. Ashi (Issac Sadoq, ben Jesse) - 810-812 * Hilai ben R. Hananiah (Hillai) - 812-816 * Kimoi ben R. Ashi (Qimoi) - 816-820 * Mesharsheya Kahana ben Jacob Gaon (Moses, ha-Kohen) -820-830 *''Two years of an absence of a Gaon''(843-844) * Kohen Tzedek ben Abimai Gaon (Sedeq, Ikhomai, Abumai) - 832-843 *

Sar Shalom ben Boaz Rav Sar Shalom ben Boaz (Hebrew: רב שר שלום בן בועז; d. 859 or 864) also known as Sar Shalom Gaon was the Gaon of Sura from 838 to 848. He was one of the most prolific writers of his time, having more than one hundred responsa attribu ...

- 843-853 * Natronai ben R. Hilai ben R. Mari Gaon (

Natronai ben Hilai Natronai Ben Hilai (Hebrew: נטרונאי בן הלאי or Natronai Gaon, Hebrew: נטרונאי גאון; Full name: Natronai ben R. Hilai ben R. Mari) was Gaon of the Sura Academy early in the second half of the 9th century, and held this post ...

)- 853-861 * Amram bar Sheshna (

Amram Gaon Amram Gaon ( he, עמרם גאון, or Amram bar Sheshna, Hebrew: עמרם בר רב ששנא, or sometimes: Amram ben Sheshna or Amram b. Sheshna; died 875) was a '' gaon'', head of the Jewish Talmud Academy of Sura during the 9th century. H ...

, Amram ben R. Sheshna) (Author of the

Siddur A siddur ( he, סִדּוּר ; plural siddurim ) is a Jewish prayer book containing a set order of daily prayers. The word comes from the Hebrew root , meaning 'order.' Other terms for prayer books are ''tefillot'' () among Sephardi Jews, ' ...

) - 861-872 * Nahshon ben R. Zadok - 872-879 * Zemah ben R. Hayyim - (Semah) 879-886 *

Rav Malka ''Rav'' (or ''Rab,'' Modern Hebrew: ) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah; a Jewish spiritual guide; or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (1:6) states that: The term ''rav'' is also Hebrew for ''rabbi''. (For a more nuan ...

- 886 * Hai ben R. Nahshon ben Tzadok (ben Issac Sadoq) - 886-896 * Hilai ben Natronai ben Hilai Gaon (Hillai, Natrunai) - 896-904 * Shalom ben R. Mishael - 904 * Jacob ben R. Natronai (ha-Kohen, Natrunai) - 911-924 * Yom-Tob Kahana ben R. Jacob (Yom Tov, ha-Kohen) - 924 *

Saadia ben Joseph Saʻadiah ben Yosef Gaon ( ar, سعيد بن يوسف الفيومي ''Saʻīd bin Yūsuf al-Fayyūmi''; he, סַעֲדְיָה בֶּן יוֹסֵף אַלְפַיּוּמִי גָּאוֹן ''Saʿăḏyāh ben Yōsēf al-Fayyūmī Gāʾōn''; ...

of Faym (Al-Fayyumi,

) - 928-942 *

Joseph ben Jacob Joseph ben Rav Jacob HaKohen (Hebrew language, Hebrew: רבי יוסף בן רב יעקב הכהן) commonly known as bar Saṭya (Hebrew: בר סטיא; c. 902 - 969) was the Sura Academy, Gaon of Sura from 930 to 936 and again from 942 to 948. ...

bar Satya (ben Satya) - around 930 *''The academy was closed for about 45 years'' *

Zemah Tzedek ben Paltoi ben Isaac Zemah ( he, צמח, literally: plant; also spelled ''Tzemach'', ''Tzemah'', ''Zemach'') may refer to: People * Zemah ben Hayyim, Gaon of Sura from 889 to 895 * Zemah ben Paltoi (died 890), Gaon at Academy at Pumbeditha * Jacob ben Hayyim Zemah (17 ...

(Semah, Sedeq) - around 990 and around 998 *

Samuel ben Hofni Samuel ben Hofni (Hebrew: שמואל בן חפני, or full name: רב שמואל בן חפני גאון bbreviation: רשב"חor שמואל בן חפני הכהן; also: Samuel b. Hofni or Samuel ha-Kohen ben Hofni; died 1034). He was the Gaon of ...

(Hophni, ha-Kohen) (father-in-law of

Hai Gaon Hai ben Sherira (Hebrew: האי/י בר שרירא) better known as Hai Gaon (Hebrew: האי/י גאון, חאיי גאון), was a medieval Jewish theologian, rabbi and scholar who served as Gaon of the Talmudic academy of Pumbedita during the ...

) - around 998 and around 1012 *

Dosa ben Saadia Dosa ben Saadia (Hebrew: דּוֹסָא בֶּן סַעֲדְיָה, ''Dōsā Ben Saʿăḏyāh'') (Arabic: دوسة بن سعيد الفيومي, ''Dawsa bin Saʻīd al-Fayyūmi'': - 1018) was a Talmudic scholar and philosopher who was the Gaon ...

Gaon (Son of

) - 1012-1018 * Israel ha-Kohen ben Samuel ben Hofni (Hophni) - 1018-1033

References

{{Geonim Talmudic Academies in Babylonia Religious academies in Babylon Jewish Babylonian history Jewish education Jewish educational organizations Talmud Chazal

History

List of Sura academy's Deans

Amora era

Savora era

See also

References