Ḥerem against Se‘adya Ga’on

David ben Zakkay lived in Baghdad, where he held the position of exilarch from approximately 915 until his death. He is primarily remembered for his involvement in a bitter feud with Se‘adya Ga’on. Although David was responsible for Se‘adya’s appointment as the head of the Sura academy, two years into Se‘adya’s tenure, around 930, a battle broke out between the two figures. Nathan ha-Bavli pointed to a single judicial disagreement as the cause, but it is likely that other political and institutional factors played a role. Both David and Se‘adya attempted to appoint replacements for the other’s position, but the two figures eventually reconciled.