Iggeres D'Rav Sherira Gaon, part 21: The History of the Authority of Babylonian Yeshivos

The Shaf V'Yasiv Shul in Bagdad 

Fascinating stuff on the historical development of the authority of the Babylonian yeshivos and their heads, going back to King Yechoniah and the Charash and Masger! Interesting material on the Shaf V'Yasiv Shul; the authority of the Reish Galusa and how it underlay the authority of Babylonian Halacha; New Insights into Rabbanan Savurai and their authority, and a bit of Maskil'eshe speculation on RSG's fundraising agenda in composing the Iggeres!