person · P0380

Rav Mevasser Kahana bar Kimoi מר רב מבשר כהנא גאון בר מר רב קמוי גאון

The academy's own gaon in the great schism of 917–926: chosen by the scholars of Pumbedita against the exilarch's Kohen Tzedek, holding his separate court — "the choicest of the scholars with him" — until his death folded the academy back together.

I. Who

Hebrew
מר רב מבשר כהנא גאון בר מר רב קמוי גאון
Era
geonim
Parents
Rav Kimoi bar Achai

II. When

Traditional
gaon of Pumbedita 4677–4686 AM (in schism)
Academic
gaon 917–926 CE (in schism)
Lifespan (traditional)
≈59 years
Precision
approximate

III. Where

Places
Pumbedita

V. How do we know

ClaimEvidenceConfidenceSources
"The scholars of the metivta gathered and acclaimed Mar Rav Mevasser Kahana the gaon bar Mar Rav Kimoi the gaon... Rav Mevasser the gaon and his scholars sat alone, and the choicest of the scholars were with him... and in Kislev of the year 1237 [926 CE] Mar Rav Mevasser the gaon died."
Rival gaon recognized by the academy's own scholars, opposite Kohen Tzedek bar Yosef (Rav Kohen Tzedek Kahana bar Yosef), whose entry records the same schism from the other side.
tradition ★★★★☆
No source names his teacher; his father Rav Kimoi bar Achai — himself a head of the academy per the Iggeret — stood at the head of his formation, and Rav Tzemach bar Paltoi and Rav Hai bar David held the chair through his formative window (c. 4642–4662 AM). Kinship the Iggeret states; reception it does not — recorded as inference one remove from attestation.
Derived by era-and-institution (and household) inference, not attested.
reconstruction ★★☆☆☆