Daniel HaBavli

Daniel ben Saadia ha-Bavli was a prominent 13th-century Talmud scholar who lived from 1170 to 1220. Born in Damascus, he studied under the guidance of Samuel ben Ali, a renowned teacher who headed the Torah academy in Baghdad. This suggests that Daniel may have had roots in Iraq, despite being based in Damascus. As a scholar, Daniel was known for his critiques of Maimonides' works, opposing both the halakhic and ideological aspects of his teachings.

Daniel's opposition to Maimonides led to a series of exchanges with his son, Abraham Maimonides, after the latter's death. He sent letters questioning Maimonides' beliefs and accusing him of heresy, which Abraham responded to and published. Although Abraham refused to excommunicate Daniel, the exilarch David ben Samuel later did so. Daniel's writings include a commentary on Ecclesiastes, which contained a veiled polemic against Maimonides. His intellectual abilities were praised by Judah al-Harizi in the Tahkemoni, which likened his mind to an "ever-flowing spring" capable of great wisdom. However, al-Harizi may have later removed this reference following Daniel's excommunication. Despite this, Daniel's legacy as a significant figure in Jewish scholarship remains, with his critiques of Maimonides' works continuing to be notable in the history of Jewish thought.