R. Ahai ( he, רב אחאי, read as ''Rav Achai''; sometimes recorded as R. Aha,

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: רב אחא, read as ''Rav Acha'') was a Jewish

Savora A ''Savora'' (; Aramaic language, Aramaic: סבורא, "a reasoner", plural ''Savora'im'', ''Sabora'im'' , סבוראים) is a term used in Jewish law and history to signify one among the leading rabbis living from the end of period of the ''Amor ...

sage of the first generation of the

era. R. Ahai is the most recorded

sage in the

Babylon ''Bābili(m)'' * sux, 𒆍𒀭𒊏𒆠 * arc, 𐡁𐡁𐡋 ''Bāḇel'' * syc, ܒܒܠ ''Bāḇel'' * grc-gre, Βαβυλών ''Babylṓn'' * he, בָּבֶל ''Bāvel'' * peo, 𐎲𐎠𐎲𐎡𐎽𐎢 ''Bābiru'' * elx, 𒀸𒁀𒉿𒇷 ''Babi ...

ian

Talmud The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cente ...

. His thorough questions in the

are introduced with the phrase: "R. Ahai retorted:...". The sages of the

Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine (see also Isra ...

said of him: As to his exact identification and period, there are number of hypotheses.

Mentions in the Babylonian Talmud

Like the other sages of the Savora era, R. Ahai took part in the editing and redacting of the Babylonian Talmud. The edits made during this period include added explanations and comments as well as grammatical corrections, and were mostly done anonymously. R. Ahai is mentioned by name in the Talmud more than any other sage of the Savora era. Most of the time, he is explaining a difficulty presented in relation to a talmudic passage by sages of a previous generation. The questions he raises are preceded by the unique phrase "R. Ahai (or R. Aha) retorted". There is one instance in the Talmud of R. Ahai resolving a difficulty, with the introduction "R. Ahai explained". Twice, R. Ahai is mentioned together with his friend, Samuel b. Abbahu. Once, R. Ahai is mentioned disagreeing with

Rabbah Jose Rabban Yosi Babylonian Talmud, Erubin 71b; Rishonim and Acharonim versions; Judah B. Barzilai "Sefer-Ha-Itim"שערי תורת בבל - רבינוביץ, זאב וואלף hebrewbooks.org( he, רבה יוסי, read as Rava Yossi; Also cited as רב ...

, the head of the academy of Pumbedita.Babylonian

Ta'anit A ta'anit or ta'anis (Mishnaic Hebrew: תענית) is a Fasting, fast in Judaism in which one abstains from all food and drink, including water. Purposes A Jewish fast may have one or more purposes, including: * Atonement for sins: Fasting is n ...

18b

References

External links

AHAI

Jewish Encyclopedia ''The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day'' is an English-language encyclopedia containing over 15,000 articles on th ...

article Talmud rabbis of Babylonia Savoraim {{MEast-rabbi-stub