Samuel ben Hofni Gaon

Samuel ben Hofni led the revived academy of Sura from about 998. He was one of the most prolific and philosophical of the Geonim, and the father-in-law of Hai Gaon of Pumbedita. Writing in Judeo-Arabic, he produced a Torah commentary, an introduction to the Talmud, and dozens of topical studies of Jewish law, on subjects such as commerce, inheritance, prayer and divorce. Much of this work is known only from fragments in the Cairo Geniza. He died in 1013; older works such as the Jewish Encyclopedia give 1034.

Samuel was a confirmed rationalist, influenced by the Mu'tazila school of Islamic theology. He explained away some biblical miracles, such as the witch of Endor raising Samuel, that others read literally. Leaders of Sura followed him for a few more decades, but the academy faded soon after. His career shows the final flowering of the Babylonian Geonate, as the centers of Jewish learning moved to North Africa, Spain and Europe.