Daniel al-Kumisi

Who is Daniel al-Kumisi?

Daniel al-Kumisi was one of the most prominent early scholars of Karaite Judaism. He flourished at the end of the ninth or at the beginning of the tenth century. He was a native of Damagan, the capital of the Tabarian province of Kumis, in the former state of Tabaristan, as is shown by his two surnames, the latter of which is found only in Qirqisani. His attitude to Anan ben David and his violent opposition to the Ananites are characteristic of his place in Karaism. At first he esteemed Anan highly, calling him rosh hamaskilim; but later he despised him and called him rosh ha-kesilim. Nevertheless, Daniel's opinions were respected by the Karaites.

Daniel later immigrated to Jerusalem, and founded the order of the "Mourners of Zion." He may have built the oldest Karaite Synagogue, which is located in Jerusalem. Epousing proto-Zionist views, he urged his fellow Karaites to return to Israel, and called those who opposed doing so "fools who draw the Lord's wrath" in his Epistle to the Diaspora.