Hai ben Sherira

Hai ben Sherira, commonly referred to as Hai Gaon, was a prominent medieval Jewish scholar and theologian. Born in 939, he went on to become a distinguished rabbi and Gaon of the esteemed Talmudic academy of Pumbedita. His early life was marked by a strong foundation in Talmudic studies, which he acquired under the guidance of his father, Sherira ben Hanina. This education would later serve as the basis for his own teaching career, initially as his father's assistant.

Hai Gaon's ascent to leadership was a gradual one, with him becoming associated with his father as "av bet din" in his forty-fourth year. Together, they issued numerous joint decisions, demonstrating a collaborative approach to their scholarly and judicial work. Eventually, Hai Gaon assumed a leading role, culminating in his tenure as Gaon of the Pumbedita academy during the early 11th century. He passed away on March 28, 1038, and is notable for being the last of the Geonim, as recorded by Rabbi Abraham ben David in his work Sefer HaKabbalah.