Hai ben David

Ninth-century rabbi

Rabbi Hai ben David (Hebrew: האי בן דוד) was a late 9th-century rabbi of the Geonic period, who served as the Gaon (dean) of Pumbedita Academy from 890 to 897, and was known for his anti-Karaitic stance.

Biography

Prior to his appointment, R. Hai ben David had served as a rabbinic judge in Baghdad, possibly at the court of the Exilarchs. After the death of the previous Gaon of Pumbedita, R. Zemah ben Paltoi in 980, R. Hai was offered the Gaonate of Pumbedita, which he accepted later that year. Soon after his appointment, R. Hai moved the academy to Baghdad, which was under Abbasid rule at the time.^[1] R. Hai is mentioned in Isaac ibn Ghayyat's "Halakot," which states that R. Hai unsuccessfully attempted to abolish the Baghdad custom of reciting the Avodah on the morning of Yom Kippur. According to contested Karaitic sources, R. Hai had written an anti-Karaitic book with the purpose of justifying the Rabbinite calendar, however some have argued that his authorship is confused with R. Hai Gaon.^[2]

References

^ Sklare, David Eric (1996). Samuel Ben Ḥofni Gaon and His Cultural World. BRILL. p. 71. ISBN 9789004103023.
^ Montefiore, C. G.; Abrahams, I (1897). The Jewish Quarterly Review. Vol. 10. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 239.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Hai ben David". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.

Preceded by

Zemah ben Paltoi

Gaon of the Pumbedita Academy
872-889

Succeeded by

Kimoi ben Ahhai

Geonim

Deans of Pumbedita Academy