Amemar ( he, אמימר) was a
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 rabbi, of the fifth and sixth generation of
amoraim
''Amoraim'' (Aramaic language, 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 Common Era, CE, who "sai ...
.
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 Rava may refer to:
Biographical
* Bishnu Prasad Rabha, multifaceted artist and revolutionary singer of Assam
* Abba ben Joseph bar Ḥama (born 280), a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, always known by the honorific name ''Raba,'' ''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
Fellow Student ( Hebrew: תלמיד חבר) was a Talmudist epithet commonly used to describe the interim status of a disciple between the status of being merely a disciple of a teacher Rabbi and being practically equal in status. In many cases, a ...
") and R.
Huna b. Nathan
Rav Huna bar Natan ( he, הונא בר נתן, read as Rav Huna bereih deRav Natan (רב הונא בריה דרב נתן) was a Babylonian rabbi and exilarch, of the fifth and sixth generations of amoraim.
Biography
Huna's father was also a known ...
, the
Exilarch.
The Talmud frequently records him together with his colleagues,
Mar Zutra and
Rav Ashi. On royal festivals, the three of them officially represented the Jews at the court of
Yazdegerd I. On one of these occasions, Huna bar Nathan was among the assembled dignitaries, and the king, happening to notice that Huna's girdle was disheveled, adjusted it, remarking, "It is written of you, 'You shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,' and you must therefore wear the girdle as priests do." When Amemar heard of this, he said to Huna, "On you has been realized the prophetic promise, 'Kings shall be your attendants'".
His mother's father was
Rami bar Hama. Amemar's erudition was continued in his son Mar, who often quoted him to Rav Ashi. A grandson of Amemar's died in his lifetime, and he
tore his clothes when he found out. When Amemar's son, the bereaved father, arrived, Amemar tore again. He had torn while sitting, but when he remembered that halacha requires tearing to be done while standing, he stood up and tore a third time. In later generations, some of his descendants served as
geonim in the yeshivas of
Sura
A ''surah'' (; ar, سورة, sūrah, , ), is the equivalent of "chapter" in the Qur'an. There are 114 ''surahs'' in the Quran, each divided into '' ayats'' (verses). The chapters or ''surahs'' are of unequal length; the shortest surah ('' Al-K ...
and
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 t ...
.
According to the Talmud, he died after Rav Ashi and Amemar's son discussed Amemar's death in an innocent halachic context.
Teachings
Many halachic discussions between him and Rav Ashi are recorded.
Some of his homiletic observations appear in the Babylonian Talmud.
Quotes
* A wise man is preferable to a prophet.
[Bava Batra 12a]
References
{{authority control
Talmud rabbis of Babylonia