Exilarch

"head of the exile", Greek : Æchmalotarcha ) refers to the leaders of the Diaspora Jewish community following the deportation of the population of Judah into Babylonian exile after the destruction of the kingdom of Judah . The people in exile were called golah ( Jeremiah 28:6 , 29:1 ; Ezekiel passim ) or galut ( Jeremiah 29:22 ). The Greek term has continued to be applied to the position, notwithstanding changes to the position over time, which was at most times purely honorific. The origin of this dignity is not known, but the princely post was hereditary in a family that traced its descent from the royal Davidic line . It was recognized by the state and carried with it certain perogatives. The first historical documents referring to it date from the time when Babylon was part of the Parthian Empire . The office lasted to the middle of the sixth century CE, under different regimes (the Arsacids and Sassanids ). During the beginning of sixth century Mar-Zutra II formed a politically independent state where he ruled from Mahoza for about 7 years. He was eventually defeated by Kavadh I , King of Persia. The position was restored in the seventh century, under Arab rule. Exilarchs continued to be appointed through the 11th century.

"head of the exile", Greek : aechmalotarches / Αἰχμαλωτάρχης ) refers to the leaders of the Diaspora Jewish community in Babylon following the deportation of King Jeconiah and his court into Babylonian exile after the first fall of Jerusalem in 597 BCE and augmented after the further deportations following the destruction of the kingdom of Judah in 587 BCE. The people in exile were called golah ( Jeremiah 28:6 , 29:1 ) or galut ( Jeremiah 29:22 ). The Greek term has continued to be applied to the position, notwithstanding changes to the position over time, which was at most times purely honorific. The origin of this dignity is not known, but the princely post was hereditary in a family that traced its descent from the royal Davidic line . It was recognized by the state and carried with it certain prerogatives. The first historical documents referring to it date from the time when Babylon was part of the Parthian Empire . The office lasted to the middle of the 6th century, under different regimes (the Arsacids and Sassanids ). During the end of 5th century and the beginning of 6th century Mar-Zutra II formed a politically independent state where he ruled from Mahoza for about seven years. He was eventually defeated by Kavadh I , King of Persia. The position was restored in the 7th century, under Arab rule. Exilarchs continued to be appointed through the 11th century.

Leader of the Jewish community in Babylon during the era of the Parthians, Sassanids and Abbasids up until the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in 1258, with intermittent gaps For the album by Conjure One, see Exilarch (album) . An exhibit depicting Exilarch Huna at the Beit Hatfutsot The exilarch was the leader of the Jewish community in Babylon during the era of the Parthians , Sassanids and Abbasids up until the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in 1258, with intermittent gaps due to political developments. The exilarch was the equivalent of the Katholikos of the Christian Church of the East (Nestorian), and was thus responsible for community-specific organizational tasks such as running courts, collecting taxes, supervising and providing financing for the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia , and the redistribution and financial assistance to needy members of the community. The position was hereditary in a family that traced its descent from the royal Davidic line . The first historical documents referring to it date from the time when Babylon was part of the Parthian Empire . The office first lasted to the middle of the 6th century, under different regimes (the Parthians and Sassanids). During the end of 5th century and the beginning of 6th century CE, Mar-Zutra II formed a politically independent state where he ruled from Mahoza for about seven years. He was eventually defeated by Kavadh I , King of Persia. The position was restored in the 7th century, under Arab rule. Exilarchs continued to be appointed through the 11th century. Under Arab rule, Muslims treated the exilarch with great pomp and circumstance. The exilarch's authority came under considerable challenge in 825 CE during the reign of al-Ma'mun who issued a decree permitting a group of ten men from any religious community to organize separately, which allowed the Gaon of the Talmudic academies of Sura and Pumbedita to compete with the exilarch for power and influence, later contributing to the wider schism between Karaites and Rabbinic Jewry .

Leader of the Jewish community in Mesopotamia For the album by Conjure One, see Exilarch (album) . An exhibit depicting Exilarch Huna at the Beit Hatfutsot The exilarch was the leader of the Jewish community in Persian Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) during the era of the Parthians , Sasanians and Abbasid Caliphate up until the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in 1258 CE, with intermittent gaps due to ongoing political developments. The exilarch was regarded by the Jewish community as the royal heir of the House of David and held a place of prominence as both a rabbinical authority and as a noble within the Persian court. Within the Sasanian Empire , the exilarch was the political equivalent of the Catholicos of the Christian Church of the East , and was thus responsible for community-specific organizational tasks such as running the rabbinical courts, collecting taxes from Jewish communities, supervising and providing financing for the Talmudic academies in Babylonia , and the charitable re-distribution and financial assistance to needy members of the exile community. The position of exilarch was hereditary, held in continuity by a family that traced its patrilineal descent from antiquity stemming from king David . The first historical documents referring to it date from the time when Babylonia was part of the late Parthian Empire . The office first appears during the 2nd century and continues to the middle of the 6th century, under different Persian dynasties (the Parthians and Sassanids). During the end of 5th century and the beginning of 6th century CE, Mar-Zutra II briefly formed a politically independent state where he ruled from Mahoza for about seven years. He was eventually defeated by Kavadh I , King of Persia and the office of the exilarch was diminished for sometime thereafter. The position was restored to prominence in the 7th century, under the rule of the Arab Caliphate, and the office of exilarch continued to be appointed by Arab authorities through the 11th century. The exilarch's authority came under considerable challenge in 825 CE during the reign of al-Ma'mun who issued a decree permitting a group of ten men from any religious community to organize separately, which allowed the Gaon of the Talmudic academies of Sura and Pumbedita to compete with the exilarch for power and influence, later contributing to the wider schism between Karaites and Rabbinic Jewry . גרוסמן, אברהם; Grossman, A. "From Father to Son: The Inheritance of the Spiritual Leadership of the Jewish Communities in the Early Middle Ages / ירושת אבות בהנהגה הרוחנית של קהילות ישראל בימי הביניים המוקדמים". Zion / ציון . נ : 189– 220.

Leader of the Jewish community in Mesopotamia For the album by Conjure One, see Exilarch (album) . An exhibit depicting Exilarch Huna at the Beit Hatfutsot The exilarch was the leader of the Jewish community in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq ) during the era of the Parthians , Sasanians and Abbasid Caliphate up until the Mongol invasion of Baghdad in 1258, with intermittent gaps due to ongoing political developments. The exilarch was regarded by the Jewish community as the royal heir of the House of David and held a place of prominence as both a rabbinical authority and as a noble within the Persian and Arab court. Within the Sasanian Empire , the exilarch was the political equivalent of the Catholicos of the Christian Church of the East and was thus responsible for community-specific organizational tasks such as running the rabbinical courts , collecting taxes from Jewish communities, supervising and providing financing for the Talmudic academies in Babylonia , and the charitable re-distribution and financial assistance to needy members of the exile community. The position of exilarch was hereditary, held in continuity by a family that traced its patrilineal descent from antiquity stemming from king David . The first historical documents referring to it date from the time when Babylonia was part of the late Parthian Empire . The office first appears during the 2nd century and continues to the middle of the 6th century, under different Persian dynasties (the Parthians and Sassanids). In the late 5th and early 6th centuries, Mar-Zutra II briefly formed a politically independent state where he ruled from Mahoza for about seven years. He was eventually defeated by Kavadh I , King of Persia, and the office of the exilarch was diminished for some time thereafter. The position was restored to prominence in the 7th century, under the rule of the Arab Caliphate, and the office of exilarch continued to be appointed by Arab authorities through the 11th century. The exilarch's authority came under considerable challenge in 825 during the reign of al-Ma'mun who issued a decree permitting a group of ten men from any religious community to organize separately, which allowed the Gaon of the Talmudic academies of Sura and Pumbedita to compete with the exilarch for power and influence, later contributing to the wider schism between Karaites and Rabbinic Jewry . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ). גרוסמן, אברהם; Grossman, A. "From Father to Son: The Inheritance of the Spiritual Leadership of the Jewish Communities in the Early Middle Ages / ירושת אבות בהנהגה הרוחנית של קהילות ישראל בימי הביניים המוקדמים". Zion / ציון . נ : 189– 220.