person · P0274

Yehudah Gaon (of Pumbedita) רב יהודה גאון

Gaon of Pumbedita for eleven and a half years and grandfather of Rav Sherira Gaon, who cites him in the Iggeret as "our elder, the father of our father" — the household through which the Iggeret's own tradition descended.

I. Who

Hebrew
רב יהודה גאון
Also known as
Yehudah bar Shmuel, Yehudai bar Shmuel
Era
geonim
Children
Chananya Gaon

II. When

Traditional
gaon of Pumbedita 4666–4677 AM
Academic
gaon 906–917 CE
Lifespan (traditional)
≈67 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Pumbedita

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
"After him reigned Mar Rav Yehudah the gaon, our grandfather, the father of our father, bar Mar Rav Shmuel resh kallah, at the beginning of the year 1217 [906 CE], eleven and a half years, and he died in Adar of the year 1228" (917 CE).
Sherira's own entry (Sherira Gaon) already cites this section for his descent within the academy's leading family.
tradition ★★★★☆
No source names his teacher. Per this atlas's succession roster, Rav Tzemach bar Paltoi held the headship of his academy during his formative window (c. 4625–4645 AM), making reception from him the likeliest reconstruction.
Derived by era-and-institution inference, not attested. The formative window is computed from this entry's schematic dates, hence the low confidence.
reconstruction ★☆☆☆☆