It was Chasdai who brought both the rivals to Cordova, Menachem from Tortosa and Dunash from Fez.

Menachem was the founder of scientific Hebrew grammar; Dunash, more lively but less scholarly, initiated the art of writing metrical Hebrew verses.

The successors of these grammarians, Judah Chayuj and Abulwalid Merwan Ibn Janach (eleventh century), completed what Menachem and Dunash had begun, and placed Hebrew philology on a firm scientific basis.
Thus, with Chasdai a new literary era dawned for Judaism.

His person, his glorious position, his liberal encouragement of poetry and learning, opened the sealed-up lips of the Hebrew muse.

As a contemporary said of Chasdai: The grinding yoke from Israel's neck he tore, Deep in his soul his people's love he bore.
The sword that thirsted for their blood he brake, And cold oppression melted for his sake.
For God sent Chasdai Israel's heart to move Once more to trust, once more his God to love.
Chasdai did not confine his efforts on behalf of his brethren to the Jews of Spain.