Sura Academy

Sura
סורא
Sura
Coordinates:
Country Iraq

Sura Academy (Hebrew: ישיבת סורא) was a Jewish Yeshiva Academy in Babylon, one of the two major Jewish academies, along with the Pumbedita Yeshiva Academy, from the beginning of the era of the Amora sages and up till the end of the era of the Geonim. The Yeshiva Academy was founded by the Amora Abba Arika ("Rav"), a disciple of Judah haNasi. Among the well-known sages, who headed the Yeshiva one can note: Rav Huna, Rav Chisda, Rav Ashi, Yehudai Gaon, Natronai Gaon, Saadia Gaon, and more.

Contents

History

Abba Arika ("Rav"), arrived at Sura city to find no lively religious public life, and since he was worried about the continuity of the Jewish community in Babylon, he left Nehardea and his colleague Samuel of Nehardea, and began to establish the foundation for the Yeshiva Academy of Sura. Upon the arrival of Abba Arika at Sura city, many disciples began thronging the academy (Not necessarily from Sura city, but also from other places). The establishment of the Academy of Sura was in year 225 A.D., and around 6–7 years after Abba Arika's arrival at Babylon.

At times the academy was moved to Matha-Mehasia (מתא מחסיא), a suburb of Sura city, and after a while a Torah center was founded there as well. Abba Arika's Yeshiva academy included 1,200 disciples, and since it addressed a large community, the Yeshiva academy was divided into sections:

  1. Exedra (אכסדרא, a covered way leading up to the house of learning, open at both sides, as if a divider between the city's streets and the academy).
  2. Kittun (קיטון, rooms that served for the special needs of the Rabbis and teachers of the Yeshiva academy).
  3. Ginata (גינתא, an Orchard green garden, which its produces served as a support for the academy and its disciples).
  4. Tzipi (ציפי, mats serving as a resting place for the Yeshiva academy, and for vacations). Only a short time after the foundation of the Yeshiva academy of Sura, it became more influential than the Nehardea Academy.

List of Sura academy's Deans

Rabbinical Eras

Amora era

Savora era

Geonim era [1][2][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ The list names in accordance with Hebrew Wikipedia; & Jewish Encyclopedia - Gaon- Synchronistic List of the Geonim of Sura and Pumbedita
  2. ^ The list names is also based on "Jews in Islamic countries in the Middle Ages", Moshe Gil, p. 404 - A Chronological List of the Geonim of Sura and Pumbedita [1]
  3. ^ The list dates are in accordance with the work of Prof. Moshe Gil, "Kingdom of Israel in the Gaonic era", 1997 (Hebrew). Some of the information concerning the dates are based on factual sources, however, some are based on premises, in the absence of authoritative sources or due to contradiction between sources. There is a dispute among the scholars concerning some of the dates, and not all is agreed upon.
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