Gaon (Hebrew)

Gaon ('Pride [of]'; Late medieval and modern Hebrew for 'genius') may refer to: One of the Geonim , that is to say the heads of the two major academies, at Pumbedita and Sura , and later in Baghdad, during the period 589-1040. Prominent Geonim are: Amram Gaon Hai Gaon Saadia Gaon Sherira Gaon Yehudai Gaon Samuel ben Hofni An honorific title given to a few leading rabbis of other countries in the same period, such as: Nissim Gaon Specific rabbis of later periods, called "gaon" (wise): The Vilna Gaon The Rogatchover Gaon The "Lisser Gaon", Rabbi Jacob of Lissa The Steipler Gaon Many great Rabbis, although not formally referred to as the "Gaon of ...", are nonetheless sometimes lauded with this honorific as a mark of respect, and as a means to indicate greatness.

Gaon (gā'ōn) (Hebrew גאון) (plural geonim — gĕ'ōnīm) may have originated as a shortened version of "rosh yeshivat ge'on Ya'akov", although there are other proposed explanations. It referred in Ancient Hebrew to arrogance and haughty pride (Amos 6:8). Later became known as pride in general: whether good or bad ('Pride [of]'; Late medieval and modern Hebrew for 'genius'). Today it may refer to: One of the Geonim , that is to say the heads of the two major academies, at Pumbedita and Sura , and later in Baghdad, during the period 589-1040. Prominent Geonim are: Sar Shalom Natronai II , Gaon of Sura (Gaon to 857) Amram Gaon , Gaon of Sura (Gaon 857-875) Hai Gaon Saadia Gaon Sherira Gaon Yehudai Gaon Samuel ben Hofni An honorific title given to a few leading rabbis of other countries in the same period, such as: Nissim Gaon Specific rabbis of later periods, called "gaon" (wise): The Vilna Gaon The Rogatchover Gaon The "Lisser Gaon", Rabbi Jacob of Lissa The Steipler Gaon Many great Rabbis (e.g., Rabbi Yosef Kapach ), although not formally referred to as the "Gaon of ...", are nonetheless sometimes lauded with this honorific as a mark of respect, and as a means to indicate greatness. Jehoshua Brand , Simha Assaf and David Derovan (2007).

Hebrew word and title Gaon (gā'ōn) ( , lit. ' genius ' , plural גְּאוֹנִים geonim — gĕ'ōnīm) may have originated as a shortened version of "Rosh Yeshivat Ge'on Ya'akov", although there are alternative explanations. In Ancient Hebrew , it referred to arrogance and haughty pride ( Amos 6:8 – "I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it.") and later became known as a general term for pride, both the positive and negative forms ('Pride [of]'; Late Medieval and Modern Hebrew for 'genius'). Today, it may refer to: One of the Geonim during the period 589–1040. Prominent Geonim include: Yehudai Gaon (Gaon 757–761) Sar Shalom Ben Boaz (Gaon 838–848) Natronai ben Hilai , Gaon of Sura (Gaon to 857) Amram Gaon , Gaon of Sura (Gaon 857–875) Saadia Gaon (882/892 – 942) Zemah ben Hayyim (Gaon 889–895) Sherira Gaon (906–1006) Samuel ben Hofni (died 1034) Hai Gaon (939–1038) An honorific title given to a few leading rabbis of other countries in the same period, such as: Achai Gaon (?-753-?) Nissim Gaon (990–1062) Specific rabbis of later periods, called "gaon": The Vilna Gaon (1720–1797) The Rogatchover Gaon (1858–1936) The Steipler Gaon (1899–1985) Many great rabbis, although not formally referred to as the "Gaon of ..." are often lauded with this honorific as both a mark of respect and a means to indicate their greatness in the field of Torah learning, for example, one may refer to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef as "HaGaon Rabbi Ovadia Yosef". Jehoshua Brand , Simha Assaf and David Derovan (2007). In Berenbaum, Michael ; Skolnik, Fred (eds.). Jewish Virtual Library — Gaon "ידיד נפשי המנוח הדגול, שייף עייל שייף נפיק, הגאון הגדול רבי יוסף קאפח זצ"ל." — Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in the Hebrew responsa book שו"ת הריב"ד קאפח, quoted in עלון אור ההליכות גליון חודש תמוז התשס"ט (page 3).

Hebrew word and title Gaon ( Hebrew : גאון , gā'ōn , lit. ' pride ' , plural geonim , גְּאוֹנִים , gĕ'ōnīm ) was originally a formal title for the Geonim , heads of Talmudic academies in the 6th–11th century. Since the rishonic period , many great rabbis, whether or not they head academies, are often lauded with this honorific as a mark of respect; for example, one may refer to Ovadia Yosef as "HaGaon Ovadia Yosef". Modern Hebrew reuses the word as an equivalent for "genius" based on phonetic similarity. "ידיד נפשי המנוח הדגול, שייף עייל שייף נפיק, הגאון הגדול רבי יוסף קאפח זצ"ל." — Rabbi Ovadia Yosef in the Hebrew responsa book שו"ת הריב"ד קאפח, quoted in עלון אור ההליכות גליון חודש תמוז התשס"ט (page 3).