Every day you head into the Beit Midrash, and mindlessly grab a Siddur from the shelf. You (hopefully) turn the pages and follow along. You don’t think about the Siddur’s history, only about the food that will be served during the luncheon. You just assume that the ancient rabbis assembled Siddurs and they have been around since the dinosaurs. Chances are, you have never heard of the man credited with creating the first prayer guide.
Amram Gaon is actually credited with creating the first prayer guide, in around 846 CE. If you think about it, that’s only a little over with 1000 years ago. And, yes, none of your grandparents were alive then, but the earth has been around for a couple billion years so…
The title of Gaon wasn’t something inherited during that time. Amram was head of the Sura Academy for around 20 years. He died in 857 CE, after creating other important works of writings, although none nearly as important has his Siddur.
Without Amram Gaon’s work, our services would look much different. Even though he might not have created the text, he did offer very important commentary about the prayers. Who knows what our prayers might look like if not for Amram? Because of his important work, there is even a street in Israel made after him.
So now, when you take a Siddur from the shelf, remember Amram Gaon. The man behind such an important creation. Think about how Siddurim have been around for a 1000 years. And maybe, teach others about him as well.
Wow, I never knew this before.
Glad I was able to teach you something! Which fact interested you the most? Do you think you will think of Amram Gaon when you pray?
Probably not but it’s a good thing to know!