Natronai ben Hilai

Natronai ben Hilai ( or Natronai the Gaon, ; Full name: Natronai ben Hilai ben Mari) was Gaon "head rabbi" of the Sura Academy of Rabbinic Judaism in Lower Mesopotamia from 857 until 865. He held this post for ten years. He is responsible for more written responsa to queries posed to him by world Jewry than any of his predecessors, and maintained close contact with the Jews of al-Andalus (now Spain and Portugal).

Naṭronai was also credited with a mastery of kefitzat haderech (qəfiṣáth haddérekh "shortening of the way"), or magical transit. He allegedly miraculously transported himself to France, where he instructed the people, and then returned to Mesopotamia the same way. Hai ben Sherira, however, denied this, suggesting that some adventurer may have impersonated Natronai and imposed on the Jews of France.