person · P0276

Rav Tzemach bar Kafnai רב צמח בר כפנאי

Gaon of Pumbedita for two and a half years between Kohen Tzedek and Chananya, in the very years when the quarrel of Saadia and the exilarch convulsed the sister academy.

I. Who

Hebrew
רב צמח בר כפנאי
Era
geonim

II. When

Traditional
gaon of Pumbedita 4696–4698 AM
Academic
gaon 936–938 CE
Lifespan (traditional)
≈68 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Pumbedita

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
"And Mar Rav Tzemach bar Mar Rav Kafnai reigned two and a half years, and he died at the beginning of the year 1249" (938 CE). tradition ★★★★☆
No source names his teacher. Per this atlas's succession roster, Rav Kimoi bar Achai and Rav Hai bar David held the headship of his academy during his formative window (c. 4645–4665 AM), making reception from them 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 ★☆☆☆☆