‘Amram Ga’on

‘Amram bar Sheshna was gaon of the Sura academy after the headship of Natronay (d. 858). He wrote hundreds of responsa, which answered questions sent from communities as distant as Barcelona. ‘Amram is best known for compiling, at the behest of Spanish Jews, the first Jewish prayer book, which circulated under the title The Order of ‘Amram Ga’on (Seder ‘Amram Ga’on) and was respected for centuries, throughout North Africa and Europe. The popularity of this book meant that over the years it was repeatedly emended and expanded to reflect local liturgical practices.