Rav Idi bar Abin Naggara (or Idi bar Abin, or Idi ben Abin, or Rav Idi b. Avin (I), or Ada bar Abin) was a Jewish Babylonian rabbi who lived around 350 CE (fourth generation of amoraim).

Biography

He was the son of R.

Abin Naggara The Brazilian Intelligence Agency ( pt, Agência Brasileira de Inteligência, ABIN) is the main intelligence agency in Brazil. ABIN's mission is to ensure that the Federal Executive has access to knowledge related to the security of the State a ...

, who likely worked as a carpenter (Naggara = "the carpenter"), and who came from Nerash or Nerus (נרשאה) in Babylonia. It is said that

Rav Huna Rav Huna (Hebrew: רב הונא) was a Jewish Talmudist and Exilarch who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; he was born about 216 (212 according to Gratz) and died in 296-297 (608 of ...

once passed the door of R. Abin and, when seeing the house lit by

Shabbat candles Shabbat candles ( he, נרות שבת) are candles lit on Friday evening before sunset to usher in the Jewish Sabbath. Lighting Shabbat candles is a rabbinically mandated law. Candle-lighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household ...

, remarked that "Two great men will issue hence",

Babylonian 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 cent ...

, Shabbat 23b since it is stated that "He who habitually practises he lighting ofthe lamp will possess scholarly sons". Indeed, he then had two scholarly sons: Idi and Hiyya. Idi married a woman of

Kohen Kohen ( he, , ''kōhēn'', , "priest", pl. , ''kōhănīm'', , "priests") is the Hebrew word for " priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. Levitical priests or ''kohanim'' are traditionally ...

descent and thus ate the foreleg, the jaws, and the maw. His sons R. Shesheth and R. Shisha were ordained to teaching. Idi acquired his

Torah The Torah (; hbo, ''Tōrā'', "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the ...

knowledge from R. Amram and

Rav Chisda Rav Ḥisda ( he, רב חסדא) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Kafri, Asoristan in Lower Mesopotamia near what is now the city of Najaf, Iraq. He was an amora of the third generation (died c. 320 CE at the age of ninety-twoMoed Kattan 28a) ...

. He also delivered papers in the name of R. Isaac b. Ashian, most of them in the

Aggadah Aggadah ( he, ''ʾAggāḏā'' or ''Haggāḏā''; Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: אַגָּדְתָא ''ʾAggāḏəṯāʾ''; "tales, fairytale, lore") is the non-legalistic exegesis which appears in the classical rabbinic literature of Judaism ...

, and most likely he was also his pupil. Idi gave an explanation in the presence of

Rav Yosef Rav Yosef bar Hiyya ( he, רב יוסף בר חייא), or simply Rav Yosef, was a Babylonian rabbi of the third generation of amoraim. Biography He was a student of Judah bar Ezekiel and was Abaye's teacher, and a scholarly disputant (''bar plu ...

, had discussions with

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 ...

on various occasions, and likewise gave explanations in the presence of

Rabbah Amman (; ar, عَمَّان, ' ; Ammonite: 𐤓𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤍 ''Rabat ʻAmān'') is the capital and largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of 4,061,150 as of 2021, Amman is ...

. He also had occasion to appear in the court of Rav Chisda. His pupils were

Rav Papa Rav Pappa ( he, רַב פַּפָּא) (c. 300 – died 375) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the fifth generation of amoraim. Biography He was a student of Rava and Abaye. After the death of his teachers he founded a school at Naresh, a city near ...

and R. Huna b. Joshua, who were hosted at one of his sons' houses. Idi was considered the main authority in Nerash, where he introduced a certain law. Idi seems to have moved at a later period to Shekanzib, where he had occasion to receive Papa and Huna, whom he treated in a somewhat slighting manner.Yevamot 85a

References

Talmud rabbis of Babylonia {{MEast-rabbi-stub