Nahshon ben Zadok
Encyclopedia
Nahshon ben Zadok Gaon was head of the Academy of Sura from 874 to 882, in succession to Mar Amram ben Sheshna. He wrote explanations to difficult words in the Talmud
, not in alphabetical order, as did his contemporary Gaon Ẓemaḥ ben Paltoi of Pumbedita
, but in the order of the tractates. The Re'umah, on ritual slaughtering (Constantinople, 1566), is ascribed to him, but his authorship is doubtful.
He devoted much attention to the study of the Jewish calendar. He found that the order of the week-days on which any particular festival occurs in successive years repeats itself after a cycle of 247 years, and that the years with regard to their characteristic dates can be arranged in 14 tables. This discovery is known as, and is contained in, the Iggul [Cycle] di R. Nahshon, which work was printed with the She'erit Yosef of Joseph b. Shem-Ṭob b. Joshua (1521). Nahshon and his son Hai Gaon
did not approve of saying the "Kol Nidre
" on the eve of Yom Kippur
.
Most of his responsa
, contained in the collection Sha'are Ẓedeḳ, are written in Aramaic in a curt, difficult style; but the responsa ascribed to him in Teshubot Ge'onim Ḳadmonim are written in mixed Hebrew in a plain, easy diction. Some of his decisions conflict with the Talmud
, and in his haggadic interpretations he did not always agree with the older haggadists. He was greatly respected by his contemporaries.
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, not in alphabetical order, as did his contemporary Gaon Ẓemaḥ ben Paltoi of Pumbedita
Pumbedita
Pumbedita was the name of a city in ancient Babylonia close to the modern-day city of Fallujah....
, but in the order of the tractates. The Re'umah, on ritual slaughtering (Constantinople, 1566), is ascribed to him, but his authorship is doubtful.
He devoted much attention to the study of the Jewish calendar. He found that the order of the week-days on which any particular festival occurs in successive years repeats itself after a cycle of 247 years, and that the years with regard to their characteristic dates can be arranged in 14 tables. This discovery is known as, and is contained in, the Iggul [Cycle] di R. Nahshon, which work was printed with the She'erit Yosef of Joseph b. Shem-Ṭob b. Joshua (1521). Nahshon and his son Hai Gaon
Hai Gaon
Hai ben Sherira , was a medieval Jewish theologian, rabbi and scholar who served as Gaon of the Talmudic academy of Pumbedita during the early 11th century. He was born in 939 and died on March 28, 1038...
did not approve of saying the "Kol Nidre
Kol Nidre
Kol Nidre is an Aramaic declaration recited in the synagogue before the beginning of the evening service on every Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement...
" on the eve of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
.
Most of his responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
, contained in the collection Sha'are Ẓedeḳ, are written in Aramaic in a curt, difficult style; but the responsa ascribed to him in Teshubot Ge'onim Ḳadmonim are written in mixed Hebrew in a plain, easy diction. Some of his decisions conflict with the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, and in his haggadic interpretations he did not always agree with the older haggadists. He was greatly respected by his contemporaries.
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Grätz, Gesch. v. 280;
- Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, i. 181, Warsaw, 1883;
- Weiss, Dor, iv. 109, 122-124;
- Zacuto, Yuḥasin, ed. Filipowski, p. 206, London, 1857.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia article for Nahshon ben Zadok, by S. Mannheimer et al.