Creator Bio
Solomon ben Judah
d. 1051
Born into a family originally from Fez, Morocco, Solomon ben Judah was a member of the Palestinian academy in Jerusalem and married the daughter of the gaon Solomon ben Joseph ha-Kohen. After holding several positions in the academy, he was appointed to lead it, which he did from 1025 to 1051, despite significant agitation from his rival Nathan ben Abraham. Solomon ben Judah is the Palestinian gaon about whom we know the most; several of his piyyutim (liturgical poems) and many of his letters have been identified in the Geniza material. Solomon is known to have been conciliatory toward Karaites, and, despite battling with Babylonian Rabbanite authorities, he sent his son Yaḥyā to study with Hayya Ga’on.
Content by Solomon ben Judah
Primary Source
Letter to Sahlān ben Abraham
Peace, peace be his allotment.
May his blessings from heaven above increase.
May he have salvation, mercy, and his prayers accepted.
May he find favor and lovingkindness and enlightenment
In the eyes…
Primary Source
Letter to Solomon ha-Rofe’ ben Eli
May complete well-being be brought about, inscribed, and sealed up for our dear one and our elder and our noted one, the honorable, holy, our master and teacher, Solomon the elder, the wise and…
Primary Source
Letter to Abraham ben Isaac ha-Kohen
To the dear, glorious, honourable, great, holy master and teacher Abraham ha-Kohen “Prince of the Congregation”—may the Rock be his aid and his shelter’s shade, and may he crown him and help him find…