Aaron ben Meïr
Aaron ben Meïr was a rabbi and a Nasi (head of the Sanhedrin) of the Palestinian Gaonate in the first half of the tenth century. His name was brought to light by several fragments discovered in various genizoth. The fragments contain an account of a controversy between Ben Meïr and the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia regarding the Hebrew calendar. Debate concerning reign Sacha Stern (following Shraga Abramson) argues that in fact the ben Meir of the Calendar Controversy was more likely Aaron ben Moses ben Meir, and not this Aaron. Gil believes that the Aaron ben Meir of this article ruled in a co-regency with his father Meir for 14 years. Changing the date of Passover Introducing a new rule in the fixation of the molad (lunar conjunction) of the month of Tishri, Ben Meïr in 921 CE decreed that, in the year 922, Passover and the other Jewish feasts should be celebrated two days before the date prescribed by the traditional calendar. The sage and scholar Saadia Gaon, who was at that time staying at Baghdad, objected, along with the Babylonian academies. Ben Meïr, however, refused to yield to their injunctions, denying them any authority in astronomical matters; and,