Judah ben Joseph of Kairouan

Judah ben Joseph of Kairouan was a wealthy merchant and Talmudic scholar of the geonic era. Judah was among the most respected scholars of his time as evidenced by his correspondence on halakhic problems with the heads of the Pumbedita and Sura Academies. Documents from Cairo Genizah indicate that he was a wealthy merchant who had considerable influence with the government. Judah assisted the Jews expelled from Fez in 979/980 following the revolt of the Beni Ziri against the Fatimids. He was also a patron of scholars and contributed to the Babylonian yeshivot.