Bostanai
| Bustanai בוסתנאי بوستني | |
|---|---|
| Ras al Jalut | |
Calligraphical depiction of Bustanai | |
| Exilarch in the Rashidun Caliphate | |
| Reign | 642–670 |
| Predecessor | Heman |
| Successor | Hisdai I |
| Born | c. 599 CE Ctesiphon, Sasanian Empire |
| Died | c. 670 (aged 70–71) Medina, Hejaz, Arabia |
| Burial | Ramallah, Palestine, Rashidun Caliphate |
| Spouse |
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| Issue |
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| Dynasty | Davidic Dynasty |
| Father | Haninai ben Hofnai (Kulthum Ar Rabi') |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Arabic name | |
| Personal (Ism) | Hani' |
| Patronymic (Nasab) | Hani' ibn Kulthum Ar-Rabi |
Bostanai (Hebrew: בוסתנאי), also transliterated as Bustanai or Bustnay, also known by his personal name Haninai (Hani' in Arabic), was the first Exilarch (leader of the Jewish community of Mesopotamia) under Arab rule. He lived in the early-to-middle of the 7th century, and died about AD 670. The name is Aramaized from the Persian bustan or bostan (Persian : بوستان), meaning "Garden". Bostanai is the only Dark Age Babylonian Exilarch of whom anything more than a footnote is known. He is frequently made the subject of Jewish legends.
According to the Maaseh Beth David, Bostanai was confirmed in his office as exilarch by the Caliph Ali, no earlier then 656. The Caliph granted him the authority to appoint civil judges, and heads of the rabbinical academies at Sura, Pumbedita and Nehardea.