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Aha B. Rava
Rav Aha b. Rava (or Rav Aha b'reih deRava; he, רב אחא בריה דרבא) was a Babylonian rabbi (sixth and seventh generation of amoraim). Biography His name indicates that he was the son of Rava. Some believe this was the famous Rava who argued with Abaye; others say it was a different Rava. His teachers included Rav Kahana III, Rav Ashi, Amemar, and Mar Zutra. His colleagues included Ravina I. After Mar Zutra's death, he took Mar Zutra's place as head of the Pumbedita yeshiva. He is recorded as debating the behavior of ants, criticizing the methodology of an experiment which R' Shimon ben Halafta Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta was a rabbi who lived in the 2nd century CE (fourth generation of tannaim). His life Little is known of his life, but a number of stories are recorded involving him, often involving miracles. He was the brother of R' Jose ... had performed to determine their social patterns. References Talmud rabbis of Babylonia Rabbis of Academy of Pumbed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Babylonia
Babylonia (; Akkadian: , ''māt Akkadī'') was an ancient Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in the city of Babylon in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq and parts of Syria). It emerged as an Amorite-ruled state c. 1894 BCE. During the reign of Hammurabi and afterwards, Babylonia was called "the country of Akkad" (''Māt Akkadī'' in Akkadian), a deliberate archaism in reference to the previous glory of the Akkadian Empire. It was often involved in rivalry with the older state of Assyria to the north and Elam to the east in Ancient Iran. Babylonia briefly became the major power in the region after Hammurabi (fl. c. 1792–1752 BCE middle chronology, or c. 1696–1654 BCE, short chronology) created a short-lived empire, succeeding the earlier Akkadian Empire, Third Dynasty of Ur, and Old Assyrian Empire. The Babylonian Empire rapidly fell apart after the death of Hammurabi and reverted to a small kingdom. Like Assyria, the Babylonian state ret ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amoraim
''Amoraim'' (Aramaic: plural or , singular ''Amora'' or ''Amoray''; "those who say" or "those who speak over the people", or "spokesmen") refers to Jewish scholars of the period from about 200 to 500 CE, who "said" or "told over" the teachings of the Oral Torah. They were primarily located in Babylonia and the Land of Israel. Their legal discussions and debates were eventually codified in the Gemara. The ''Amoraim'' followed the ''Tannaim'' in the sequence of ancient Jewish scholars. The ''Tannaim'' were direct transmitters of uncodified oral tradition; the ''Amoraim'' expounded upon and clarified the oral law after its initial codification. The Amoraic era The first Babylonian ''Amoraim'' were Abba Arika, respectfully referred to as ''Rav'', and his contemporary and frequent debate partner, Shmuel. Among the earliest ''Amoraim'' in Israel were Johanan bar Nappaha and Shimon ben Lakish. Traditionally, the Amoraic period is reckoned as seven or eight generations (dep ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rava (amora)
Abba ben Joseph bar Ḥama (c. 280 – 352 CE), who is exclusively referred to in the Talmud by the name Rava (), was a Babylonian rabbi who belonged to the fourth generation of amoraim. He is known for his debates with Abaye, and is one of the most often cited rabbis in the Talmud. Biography He was born about 280 CE in Mahoza (a suburb of Ctesiphon, the capital of Persia), where his father was a wealthy and distinguished scholar. In his youth Rava went to Sura, where he attended the lectures of Rav Chisda and associated with Rami bar Hama. About ten years after Rami's death Rava married his widow, the daughter of Rav Chisda. It is said that earlier Rav Chisda's daughter sat in her father's classroom, while his students, Rava and Rami bar Hama, stand before them. When Rav Chisda asked her which of the two she wants to marry, she replied "both of them," and Rava added, "I'll be the last one" (commentators let us know that she indeed married Rami first and Rava second). They had fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abaye
Abaye ( he, אַבַּיֵי) was a rabbi of the Jewish Talmud who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the fourth generation. He was born about the close of the third century, and died 337 CE. Biography His father, Kaylil, was the brother of Rabbah bar Nachmani (Rabbah), a teacher at the Academy of Pumbedita. Abaye's real name was Nachmani, after his grandfather. Left an orphan at an early age, he was adopted by his uncle, Rabbah. Opinions differ as to the source of his nickname Abaye. Some say it is a diminutive of the word ''abba'' (father), meaning "Little Father", to avoid confusion with his grandfather of the same name (or perhaps to show respect for that grandfather). Others say that Abaye was not a nickname, but an acronym of the Biblical phrase "For through You the orphan receives mercy", alluding to Abaye's being an orphan. A modern opinion is that Abaye is an old Aramaic word meaning "comfort", and thus a direct translation of his Hebrew name, Nachmani. From then ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rav Kahana III
''For other Amoraic sages of Babylonia with the name "Rav Kahana", see Rav Kahana.'' Rav Kahana (III) ( he, רב כהנא מפום נהרא, read as ''Rav Kahana Me-Pum-Nahara'', lit. "Rabbi Kahana of Pum-Nahara"; appearing in the Talmud merely as Rav Kahana) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the third and fourth generation of amoraim, who headed the Yeshiva of Pum-Nahara. Biography During his youth he studied under Judah ben Ezekiel, and after his death, he served at Rabbah bar Nahmani as well, and learned under him tractate Sanhedrin along with his great friend Rav Safra. He made Aliyah to the Land of Israel along with Safra, and studied under Rabbi Zeira and Rabbi Abbahu. He also studied under Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba, who also prayed for his longevity, and indeed his blessing materialized. After a while he returned to Babylonia, and then fixed his residence at Pum-Nahara, where he studied with Rav Ashi, who became his leading student. Ashi honored Kahana greatly, but considered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rav Ashi
Rav Ashi ( he, רב אשי) ("Rabbi Ashi") (352–427) was a Babylonian Jewish rabbi, of the sixth generation of amoraim. He reestablished the Academy at Sura and was the first editor of the Babylonian Talmud. Biography According to a tradition preserved in the academies, Rav Ashi was born in the same year that Rava (the great teacher of Mahuza) died, and he was the first important teacher in the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia after Rava's death. Simai, Ashi's father, was a rich and learned man, a student of the college of Naresh near Sura, which was directed by Rav Papa, Rava's disciple. Ashi's teacher was Rav Kahana III, a member of the same college, who later became president of the academy at Pumbedita. Ashi married the daughter of Rami bar Hama, or Rami b. Abba according to other texts. Ashi was rich and influential, owning many properties and forests. The Talmud gives him as an example of "Torah and greatness combined in one place", that is to say, he possessed b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amemar
Amemar ( he, אמימר) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the fifth and sixth generation of amoraim. His name is a compound word, formed of the personal name "Ami" and the title "Mar" ("master"). Biography Amemar was one of the leading sages of his generation. He reestablished the Nehardea Academy, and restored it to its original reputable position—it having been destroyed over a century before by Odaenathus—and was its rector for more than thirty years (390-422). In addition to that office, he was the president of the court at Nehardea and introduced several ritual changes. Later he moved to Mahuza, where he also served as a religious judge. His teachers include Rava, Rav Yosef, and Rav Nachman. Later on he learned from students of Rava and Abaye, including Rav Zevid and Rav Papa. His students include the leading amoraim of the sixth generation, including Rav Ashi (who became Amemar's " Fellow Student") and R. Huna b. Nathan, the Exilarch. The Talmud frequently records him ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mar Zutra
Mar Zutra ( he, מר זוטרא, died 417 CE) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the sixth generation of amoraim. Biography He was a student of Rav Papa, whom he frequently quoted, and Rav Papi. His closest colleagues were Rav Ashi and Amemar. The three of them are described together in their studies, meals, and visits to the court of Yazdegerd I.Ketuvot 63b; Brachot 44b, 50b; Pesachim 103b; Ketuvot 61a He headed the Yeshiva of Pumbedita, and according to the book "Seder Tannaim ve-Amoraim", previous to Rav Aha b. Rava. In the ''Iggeret Rav Sherira Gaon'' (French version), he is not mentioned as a head of a Yeshiva A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy a ..., but in later sources he is noted as Mar Zutra, Head of a Yeshiva. References Talmud rabbis of Babylonia Rabbis of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ravina I
Ravina I (; died c. AD 420) was a Babylonian Jewish Talmudist and rabbi, of the 5th and 6th generation of amoraim. Biography His father seems to have died before he was born or at an early age, and it was necessary for his mother informed him of some of his father's halachic practices. He was a pupil of Rava bar Joseph bar Hama, and his extreme youthfulness at that time is shown by the fact that his teacher designated him and Hama bar Bisa as "dardeki" (children). He frequently addressed questions to Rava, whose sayings he cites. At an early age Ravina was recognized as a teacher, leaving the academy at Mahoza while Rava was still living. Wherever he lived he was recognized as a teacher and judge, and was called upon to render independent decisions. Ravina was on friendly terms with Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, and was a colleague of Rav Aha b. Rava, with whom he had many disputations on legal questions, Ravina being inclined to lenience and Aha to stringency. Ravina's decisions al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pumbedita
Pumbedita (sometimes Pumbeditha, Pumpedita, or Pumbedisa; arc, פוּמְבְּדִיתָא ''Pūmbəḏīṯāʾ'', "The Mouth of the River,") was an ancient city located near the modern-day city of Fallujah, Iraq. It is known for having hosted the Pumbedita Academy. History The city of Pumbedita was said to have possessed a Jewish population since the days of Second Temple of Jerusalem. The city had a large Jewish population and was famed for its Pumbedita Academy - whose scholarship, together with the city of Sura, gave rise to the Babylonian Talmud. The academy there was founded by Judah ben Ezekiel in the late third century. The academy was established after the destruction of the academy of Nehardea. Nehardea, being the capital city, was destroyed during the Persian-Palmyrian war. The twelfth-century travel account of Benjamin of Tudela Benjamin of Tudela ( he, בִּנְיָמִין מִטּוּדֶלָה, ; ar, بنيامين التطيلي ''Binyamin al-Tutayli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ants
Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22,000 species have been classified. They are easily identified by their geniculate (elbowed) Antenna (biology), antennae and the distinctive node-like structure that forms their slender waists. Ants form Ant colony, colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organised colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. Larger colonies consist of various castes of sterile, wingless females, most of which are workers (ergates), as well as soldiers (dinergates) and other specialised groups. Nearly all ant colonies also have some fertile males called "drones" and one or more fertile females ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shimon Ben Halafta
Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta was a rabbi who lived in the 2nd century CE (fourth generation of tannaim). His life Little is known of his life, but a number of stories are recorded involving him, often involving miracles. He was the brother of R' Jose ben Halafta and the son of R' Halafta. He lived in ''Ein Teenah'', which some identify with modern-day עין תינה in the Golan Heights. He was obese. Once on a hot day, he asked his daughter to fan him, offering to pay her for this service with packages of ''nard'' spices. Suddenly the wind blew, and he exclaimed, "How many packages of ''nard'' do I owe to the master of the wind (God)?" He was extremely poor. It is said that once he did not have money for Shabbat expenses, and upon praying he was miraculously given a precious stone. However, his wife refused to use the stone, so as not to have his reward in this world detract from his reward in the world to come. He prayed again, and the stone was miraculously taken back. It is rep ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
