Saadia Gaon

Rabbeinu Saʿadiah Gaon
רבינו סעדיה גאון
Bornc. July 892
Fayyum (present-day Egypt)
DiedMay 16, 942
Burial placeSafed Old Jewish Cemetery
EraMedieval philosophy
ChildrenDosa ben Saadia

Saʿadia ben Yosef Gaon (892–942) was a prominent rabbi, gaon, Jewish philosopher, and exegete who was active in the Abbasid Caliphate.

Saadia is the first important rabbinic figure to write extensively in Judeo-Arabic. Known for his works on Hebrew linguistics, Halakha, and Jewish philosophy, he was a student of the philosophical school known as "Jewish Kalam". In this capacity, his philosophical work entitled The Book of Beliefs and Opinions represents the first systematic attempt to integrate Jewish theology with components of ancient Greek philosophy. Saadia was also very active in opposition to Karaite Judaism in defense of Rabbinic Judaism.