The Gaonim and Reshonim were two groups of people that spanned from 650 to 1500 C.E. This was after the destruction of the temple and after the oral Torah was written down, but they were responsible for continuing to spread the Torah. They were the Jewish leaders of their time. Some of them wrote and commented on the Gemara and on the Mishnah, while some commented and wrote on the Halacha.
Beginning with the Gaonim, who lived in Babel. The term Gaon was used for the leader of the academies in Babel. They were the leaders of the Jewish communities and were responsible for creating large centralized yeshivas (or schools).
Beginning with the Gaonim, who lived in Babel. The term Gaon was used for the leader of the academies in Babel. They were the leaders of the Jewish communities and were responsible for creating large centralized yeshivas (or schools).
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His famous work was his letter or "E'Geret". Rabbi Yaakov asked him several questions on the oral Torah, which was being highly questioned during that time.
Rabbi Sherira answered that it was handed down generation by generation by Moshe,
until it was being forgotten and needed to be written down. He then explained the nature of the Mishna, Gemara, Britta and Halacha. he also explains the order of the Mishnah, the works of the Amoraim, and order of succession.
Rabbi Sherira answered that it was handed down generation by generation by Moshe,
until it was being forgotten and needed to be written down. He then explained the nature of the Mishna, Gemara, Britta and Halacha. he also explains the order of the Mishnah, the works of the Amoraim, and order of succession.
Following the Gaonim came the Reshonim. Due to persecution, the Jews were spread out and needed a way to learn torah, for the only learning centers were in Babel. Then came the Rishonim, great commentaries and teachers who made it easier to learn. This set of Rishonim included Samuel Hanagid of Spain, Gershom the son of Judah in Germany and Nissim the son of Jacob in north Africa, to name a few. Some of the Rishonim also focused on making studying Gemara more efficient. examples include Rashi, who presented the meaning to the text in a concise and coherent fashion, Rambam and Rashba, who helped advance the Gemara with their commentaries, and the school of Tosfot who gave commentary on many generations. Rishonim sometimes commented on halacha, like the rambam, who created a book in which he explained the 613 mitzvot, the rif, who wrote about legal decisions, and the tur, who wrote the arba'ah tumim.
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