[Avodah] Shiras Hayom in Shacharis

[S.]

R. Elozor Reich


> (to refer to the Geonim as
Rav is incorrect and lessens their honour


!!! In Bavel the title they used was Rav. The idea of "Godol me-rabban shemo" is brought by Rav Sherira and refers to the very earliest Tannaim, who are known to us with neither the title Rabban nor Rabbi, not the ge'onim. Can we imagine that Rav Sherira had the arrogance to use it to refer to him and the ge'onim? The appelation "Gaon" is shortened from the full title "rosh yeshiva ge'on ya'akov," used by them, but we also see from the Karaites that they were known as "Rabbanim." Finally, even if you are correct and they were never known as Rav by their contemporaries, in all subsequent literature they are known by Rav, so it certainly does not lessen their honor, and in a certain sense, referring to them by Rav is therefore *historically* correct.


(That said, nice letter.)


SW

 
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