Sa'adia Gaon (Jewish Biography as History) Dr. Henry Abramson 

THIS RABBI HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR

Im not a Jew but this man is greate listening to and learning of.

Dr. Abramson; please please please do a history of Jewish jokes! I love them all

I have come to know about Rabbi Sa’ed Ben Yousuf al-Faiyumi (Saadia Gaon) through a Muslim Scholar, Allama Ibn Nadim (ابن النديم، محمد بن إسحاق) d. 384 A.H/994 A.D who first mentioned Saadia Gaon’s Tafsir (exegesis) of Torah in Arabic in his Bibliographical work. Recently, I acquired the digital copy of it, which was first re-surfaced and published of the original (Written in Jedeo-Arabic) by renowned Orientalist Joseph Derenbourg in 1893, Paris. and later researched (different manuscripts) and re-published (in Classical Arabic) by Muslim Scholar of Hebrew Studies, Dr. Idrees A’bizah in 2010, Morocco. I must say I m in love with Rabbi Saadia Gaon and his remarkable work on Torah. As you have rightly pointed out that He was quite influenced by his Muslim contemporaries I.e Mu'tazilites who pioneered the Philosophy of Kalam (علم الكلام). as well, I must say, while continuing on reading of his Tafsir on Torah, I have encountered quite a bit of usage of Qur’anic and Islamic terminologies in his exegesis. Certainly, in my sight He was the best Jewish Scholar of the Medieval Era.

When Sa'adia talked about how he was trying to save drowning people, its a beautiful analogy of how he saw the dangers of complete assimilation and sought for integration instead. I'd love to read more of his literature and poetry to understand the Jewish spirit of those times better.

Dr. Hillel ''Henry'' Abramson, the rockstar of the scholarly world. What an absolute legend!

Excellent lecture. I am writing a masters thesis on the Judeo- Islamic relationship in Spain in the X and XI century and would like to cite this. Was this lecture given through a university? Or where was it given? Keep up the good work! It's extremely helpful.

The correct pronunciation of the [dh] sound in dhimmi is like the /th/ in the word "this", almost like a /z/ sound. Hebrew uses a zayin to represent this Semitic phoneme, whereas Aramaic used a dalet.

Thank you Rabbi for all your videos, including this one. I have recently come across your videos, and really enjoy it. I love history, and know a bit. I would like to comment on this video, but it's a bit too long. My question to you is, where can I write to you in longer than just the comment on this video?

artful lectures you perform Mr. Prof. Thank you.

your lectures are essential because viewers are learning a lot. although saadia gaon's commentaries are major jewish works i disagree with his view that people who were killed deserved it. there are other rabbis who also agree with this axioma because one rabbi wrote a book which claims that the holocaust devestated jewry for twelve sins. i find it hard to accept that rabbis attribute guilt to the deaths of victims because this point of view contradicts the bible's teachings. the following verse in psalms proves that people are frequently put to death even though they didn't deserve it: "they asssemble to execute the righteous and innocent blood they convict." meytal menkin, rechovot israel

and you mentioned that the Zoroastrians were not afforded dhimmi status because of their dualism. I've read that some Muslims in India did extend the people of the book status to the Parsis. this makes sense when you consider that according to tradition Zoroaster was actually Baruch, secretary of Jeremiah. I first read this on the Jewish encyclopedia online, I believe. I personally feel the late date early date scholastic debate about Zoroaster being from either sixth century b.c. or the tenth century b.c. (what a gap!) is analogous to the late/early exodus debates; there were two exoduses as Josephus and Menetho confirm and so maybe there were two Zoroasters, maybe Baruch fluent in many languages was seen as a reincarnation of an earlier culture hero or Uber shaman of their folkways. and from what I understand the etymology of Essene literally means fire worshiper and corresponds to Zoroastrian syncretism. I find it interesting Judaism has the eternal flame in the synagogue which to me smacks of possible influence between the two faiths.

One canNOT assume that Karites correctly quoted the Gaon. Words are an expression of paradigm.

I'm getting my Jewish education from all angles. In that spirit I ask why you say Jews say the Shema twice a day, when I was thinking it actually adds up to four times a day??

Oh no! This is the 3rd time Ive heard this joke!

at minute 29:40 they eat hot food to show that they are not Torah followers Exodus 16:23

Some times you are a little rough on your wife even though she has great questions. You argue with other people on occasion but you pretty much cut her off and tell her to argue with you later. She lets you get away with that -- I would not!

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Dear Dr Abramson, : : Saadia GAON's father was Mar Yosef BEN PINHAS, Abbassid Chief-Banker !!!!! He was born in Baghdad and died in Israel! Since when he was from a poor/humble family ??? He was from a VERY VERY RICH family ! Plus Saadia and his dad are descendants of KING DAVID^^ The family tree DOES exists^^ Mar was son of Rabbi David Pinhas BEN ABDIMI, A ROSH GOLA & Gaon ! 34:00 : using the term, "American Indians"... The are Native-Americans thats more respectful Sir ^^

nothing much...

Cute joke.

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