The Gaon Sherira and his son Haï -- Sherira's Historical Letter --
The Jewish Congregations in Spain -- Jewish Culture in Anda-
lusia -- The Disciples of Menachem and Dunash -- Jehuda Chayuj
-- Contest between Chanoch and Ibn Abitur -- Jacob Ibn Jau --
The Jews of France -- Nathan the Babylonian and Leontin -- The
Jews of Germany -- Gershom and his Ordinances -- The Emperor
Henry II. -- The Caliph Hakem -- The Jewish Communities of
Northern Africa -- Chananel, the Son of Chushiel, and Nissim
bar Jacob Ibn-Shahin -- The Jerusalem Talmud -- Haï Gaon -- His
Character and Importance -- Samuel bar Chofni -- Chiskiya, the
last Gaon -- Samuel Ibn-Nagrela -- Jonah Ibn-Janach.

970-1050 C. E.

WHEN an institution of historic origin is doomed to
sink into oblivion, the most strenuous exertions of
men cannot save it; and though they succeed by
generous sacrifices in deferring the time of its
extinction, its continuance is at best like that of a
man in a trance.

So it happened to the Babylonian Gaonate, once
so full of life. After the most cultured communities
of Spain and Africa had withdrawn their support,
and had made themselves independent of it, its fate
was sealed. It was in vain that the two men who
successively adorned the school of Pumbeditha by
their virtue and knowledge, made a strenuous effort
to give it new life. They only succeeded in staying
the death of the Gaonate for somewhat more than
half a century, but they were unable to restore its
vitality. These two men -- father and son, the last
distinguished presidents of the school of Pumbe-
ditha -- were Sheriraand Haïi ( Haaja), to whom
later generations gave the name of "the fathers and
teachers of Israel."

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