Mar ben Huna

Mar ben R. Huna (Hebrew: מר בר רב הונא or Mar b. Huna or Mar bar Huna); (died 614 [ד'שע"ד, Hebrew calendar] or 620 [ד'ש"פ, Hebrew calendar][1]) was one of the first Gaons, and head of the Sura Academy in Babylon at the end of the rule of the Sassanid Empire.

He led the re-opening of the Sura Academy (year 591; ד'שנ"א, Hebrew calendar[2]; or some believe year 609; ד'שס"ט, Hebrew calendar[3]). After some 50 years it became inactive due to Anti-Jewish decrees and pogroms during the Jewish Savora sages era. Mar ben Huna was, according to one opinion based on Iggeret Rav Sherira Gaon, the first Gaon of the Sura Academy; and according to another opinion - one of the Savora sages and their era.

References

  1. ^ Year 614 (ד'שע"ד, Hebrew calendar): see Prof. Shlomo Zalman Havlin & Isaac Iodlub "The Geonic teachings" ("תורתם של הגאונים"); or Rafael Halperin , "Tree of life", vol. 3, appendix "The Geonic years of tenure" ("שנות כהונת הגאונים"), and in the articles on Savora and Geonim in the latter part of vol. 4; Year 620 (ד'ש"פ, Hebrew calendar) was noted by Rabbi Naftali Jacob Cohen in his book "Sefer Otsar ha-gedolim, alufe Yaʻaḳov" ("ספר אוצר הגדולים אלופי יעקב"), vol. 1 "Otzar opening" ("פתח אוצר"), page 19.
  2. ^ Iggeret Rav Sherira Gaon
  3. ^ See:"Sherira Gaon, Igeret Rav Shrira Gaon - ed. Binyamin Menashe Levin, p. 100 and notes on the formula swap. Formula 'תתק"כ' influenced the scholer Rabbi Yitzhak Isaac Halevy Rabinowitz in his book the Dorot Harishonim, part 3, p. 172; Rabbi Naftali Jacob Cohen in his book "Sefer Otsar ha-gedolim, alufe Yaʻaḳov" ("ספר אוצר הגדולים אלופי יעקב"), vol. 1 "Otzar opening" ("פתח אוצר"), page 19.
Deans of Pumbedita Academy
Hanan of Iskiya • Mari ben R. Dimi • Rav Hana (Huna) • Rav Rabbah (Rava, Ravah) • Rav Bosai (Bostanai) • Huna Mari ben Mar R. Joseph • Hiyya of Meshan • Rav Rabya ben R. Abaye (Moronai) • Natronai b. Mar Nehemiah • Judah Gaon • Joseph Gaon ben Kitnai • Samuel ben Mar R. Mari • Natroi Kahana b. Emuna • Abraham Kahana • Dodai ben R. Nahman (Rav Dorai) • R. Hananya ben R. Mesharsheya • Malka ben R. Aha • Rabba ben R. Dodai (Abba) • Rav Shinwai • Haninai Kahana ben Abraham • Haninai Kahana ben Abraham • Huna ben ha-Levi ben Isaac • Manasseh ben R. Joseph • Isaiah ha-Levi ben R. Abba • Joseph ben R. Shila of Shilhe • Kahana ben Haninai Gaon • Abumai Kahana ben Abraham • Joseph ben R. Abba • Abraham ben R. Sherira • Joseph ben Mar R. Hiyya • Isaac ben R. Hananiah • Joseph ben R. Abba • Paltoi ben R. Abaye • Aha Kahana ben Mar Rav • Menahem ben R. Joseph ben Hiyya • Mattithiah ha-Kohen b. Ravrevay b. Hanina • Abba ben R. Ammi • Zemah ben Paltoi • Hai ben R. David • Kimoi ben R. Ahhai • Mebasser Kahana ben R. Kimoi • Kohen Tzedek Kahana ben R. Joseph • R. Zemah ben R. Kafnai • Hananiah ben R. Yehudai • Aaron ben R. Joseph Ha-Kohen • Nehemiah ben Kohen Tzedek • Sherira Gaon • Hai Gaon • Hezekiah ben David (Hezekiah Gaon)
Deans of Sura Academy
Mar ben R. Huna • R. Hanina (Hinenai) • Rav Hunai (Huna) • Rav Sheshna (Mesharsheya b. Tahlifa) • Hanina of Nehar Pekkod (Hinenai) • Hillai of Naresh • Jacob of nehar Pekod • Rav Samuel Gaon • Mari ha-Kohen of Nehar Pekod • Rav Aha • Yehudai ben Nahman (Yehudai Gaon) • Ahhunai Kahana ben Papa • Haninai Kahana ben R. Huna • Mari ha-Levi ben R. Mesharsheya • Bebai ha-Levi ben R. Abba of Nehar Pekod • Hilai ben R. Mari • Jacob ha-Kohen ben Mordecai • Rav Abimai • Zadok ben R. Ashi (Issac ben Jesse) • Hilai ben R. Hananiah • Kimoi ben R. Ashi • Mesharsheya Kahana ben Jacob • Kohen Tzedek ben Abimai • Sar Shalom ben R. Boaz • Natronai ben R. Hilai ben R. Mari (Natronai Gaon) • Amram bar Sheshna (Amram Gaon)• Nahshon ben R. Zadok • Zemah ben R. Hayyim • Rav Malka • Hai ben R. Nahshon • Hilai ben Natronai ben Hilai • Shalom ben R. Mishael • Jacob ben R. Natronai • Yom-Tob Kahana ben R. Jacob • Saadia ben Joseph (Saadia Gaon) • Joseph ben R. Jacob • Zemah Tzedek ben Paltoi ben Issac • Samuel ben Hofni • Dosa ben Saadia • Israel ha-Kohen ben Samuel ben Hofni
Others