Rav Natronai Gaon רב נטרונאי גאון
gaon of Sura, known for hundreds of responsa to communities' questions
The responsum — she'elot u-teshuvot, questions and answers — took shape precisely in the geonic era, and Rav Natronai is one of the men who carry it. A community sends a case, the gaon answers; the answer is copied and kept, and a century later it is cited as a source.
His answers cover everything: the order of prayer, the laws of Shabbat, dealings with Karaites, money disputes, what to do with communal property.
Two things constantly conflated must be separated here. The complete prayer book, Seder Rav Amram, was written not by him but by his successor Amram Gaon. Natronai is linked to that story in error.
His own legend is different: it was told that he was miraculously transported to Spain in a single night, taught Torah there and returned to Babylonia. Rav Hai Gaon, a century and a half later, already disputed the story — which is itself telling: the geonim knew how to say "this did not happen."
On the timeline
Sources
Rishonim
- Responsa of Rav Natronai Gaon — the body of responsa to the communities
- Rav Hai Gaon on the journey to Spain — a legend already disputed within the geonic era
Basis: documents and evidence.