Anan Ben David

Anan Ben David (c. 715 - c. 795 or 811?) (Hebrew: ענן בן דוד‎) is widely considered to be a major founder of the Karaite movement of Judaism. His followers were called Ananites and, like modern Karaites, do not believe the Rabbinic Jewish oral law (such as the Mishnah) to be divinely inspired. Later Karaite sages are highly critical of ben David, leading some modern scholars to believe that Ananism was separate from Karaism.