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Bostanai
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.
Bostanai was the posthumous son of a former exilarch, Haninai and his wife who is known as 'the daughter of Hananiah' in the Seder Olam Zutta, of whom little to nothing is known historically.
Hai ben Sharira seems to identify Bostanai with Haninai, and tells that he was given for wife a daughter of the Sasanian Emperor Khosrow II (died 628), by the Rashidun Caliph Umar (died 644). Abraham ibn Daud, however, says that it was the last Sasanian emperor, Yazdegerd III (born 624; died 651-652), who gave his daughter to Bostanai. But in that case it could have been only Calif Ali (656-661), and not Omar, who thus honored the exilarch. It is known also that Ali gave a friendly reception to the contemporary Gaon Isaac; and it is highly probable, therefore, that he honored the exilarch in certain ways as the official representative of the Jews.
The name of his Jewish wife is unknown in any record, and there are conflicting reports regarding the names of his children. A certain Rabbi Zakkai is mentioned by Benjamin of Tudela as being his son, albeit only in passing. Another son, Hasdai I, is mentioned in the Seder Olam Zutta as succeeding him to the office of exilarch, as well as Baradoi, both children of his Jewish wife. Bostanai allegedly had three children by his Persian wife, at least one son, whose name is given as Shahriyar would go on to be the ancestor of other exilarchs.
Later in life Bostanai would assume the role of Gaon of the rabbinical academy at Pumbedita.
The relation of Bostanai to the Persian princess called "Dara" or "Azdad-war" had an unpleasant familial outcome. The exilarch lived with her without having married her, and according to the rabbinical law she should previously have received her "letter of freedom," for, being a prisoner of war, she had become an Arabian slave, and as such had been presented to Bostanai.
After Bostanai's death, the legitimacy of the children that he had with her was questioned as a matter of inheritance. The children of his Jewish wife insisted that the princess and her son were still slaves and hence, their property. The judges were divided in opinion, but finally decided that the legitimate sons of the exilarch should grant letters of manumission to the princess and her son in order to testify to their emancipation. This decision was based on the ground that Bostanai had probably lived in legitimate marriage with this woman, and, although there were no proofs, had presumably first emancipated and then married her.
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Bostanai
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.
Bostanai was the posthumous son of a former exilarch, Haninai and his wife who is known as 'the daughter of Hananiah' in the Seder Olam Zutta, of whom little to nothing is known historically.
Hai ben Sharira seems to identify Bostanai with Haninai, and tells that he was given for wife a daughter of the Sasanian Emperor Khosrow II (died 628), by the Rashidun Caliph Umar (died 644). Abraham ibn Daud, however, says that it was the last Sasanian emperor, Yazdegerd III (born 624; died 651-652), who gave his daughter to Bostanai. But in that case it could have been only Calif Ali (656-661), and not Omar, who thus honored the exilarch. It is known also that Ali gave a friendly reception to the contemporary Gaon Isaac; and it is highly probable, therefore, that he honored the exilarch in certain ways as the official representative of the Jews.
The name of his Jewish wife is unknown in any record, and there are conflicting reports regarding the names of his children. A certain Rabbi Zakkai is mentioned by Benjamin of Tudela as being his son, albeit only in passing. Another son, Hasdai I, is mentioned in the Seder Olam Zutta as succeeding him to the office of exilarch, as well as Baradoi, both children of his Jewish wife. Bostanai allegedly had three children by his Persian wife, at least one son, whose name is given as Shahriyar would go on to be the ancestor of other exilarchs.
Later in life Bostanai would assume the role of Gaon of the rabbinical academy at Pumbedita.
The relation of Bostanai to the Persian princess called "Dara" or "Azdad-war" had an unpleasant familial outcome. The exilarch lived with her without having married her, and according to the rabbinical law she should previously have received her "letter of freedom," for, being a prisoner of war, she had become an Arabian slave, and as such had been presented to Bostanai.
After Bostanai's death, the legitimacy of the children that he had with her was questioned as a matter of inheritance. The children of his Jewish wife insisted that the princess and her son were still slaves and hence, their property. The judges were divided in opinion, but finally decided that the legitimate sons of the exilarch should grant letters of manumission to the princess and her son in order to testify to their emancipation. This decision was based on the ground that Bostanai had probably lived in legitimate marriage with this woman, and, although there were no proofs, had presumably first emancipated and then married her.
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