Gaon (Hebrew)

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 both 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.

Etymology

It 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, according to another explanation, it later became known as a general term for pride, and the title was used as "Pride [of]".

Examples

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)

A 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)

See also

• Genius (disambiguation)