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The Epistle of Sherira Gaon

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter comments on the epistle of Sherira Gaon, which is considered an extraordinary instance of the genre of Geonic responsa written in 986 or 987. Sherira's Epistle is exceptional both in terms of its length and subject matter and it addresses a number of questions formulated by Rabbi Nissim b. Jacob ibn Shahin on behalf of the scholars of Qayrawan. This chapter questions Sherira's use of talmudic sources and oral traditions in the responsa and suggests that Sherira's statements are almost inversely proportional to the extent to which they are supported by the Talmud itself.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRabbinic Texts and the History of Late-Roman Palestine
PublisherOxford University Press
ISBN (Electronic)9780191734663
ISBN (Print)9780197264744
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 Jan 2012

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The British Academy, 2010. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Epistle
  • Geonic responsa
  • Oral traditions
  • Qayrawan
  • Rabbi Nissim B. Jacob ibn shahin
  • Sherira Gaon
  • Talmudic sources

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