Rabbah bar Abuha

Rabbah bar Abuha (or Rabbah bar Avuha; Hebrew: רבה בר אבוה‎) was a Babylonian rabbi of the second generation of amoraim.

Rabbinical eras

Biography

He was a student of Rav,[1] and resided at Nehardea of Babylonia. He was the teacher and father-in-law of Rav Nachman. After Nehardea had been destroyed by Papa ben Neser in 259, he moved to Shekunzib (Hinzebu), and then again moved to Shilhe, then to Mahuza,[2] where he settled along with Rav Nachman, and became a religious judge. There are allusions to a number of decisions and rulings made by him while at Mahuza.[3]

He was related to the house of the exilarchs[4] and is even said to have been an exilarch himself.[5] Sherira Gaon claimed to be a descendant of his, and of the Davidic line.[6]

According to legend, Rabbah was a friend of the prophet Elijah,[7] who gave him leaves from paradise, so that he became rich.[8]

Teachings

Rabbah was not a prominent teacher; and he himself admitted that he was not thoroughly versed even in the four orders of the Mishnah, which were generally studied in the schools.[9] Some of his interpretations of various mishnaic passages have been preserved,[10] as well as confirmations of earlier halakhot[11] and halakhic decisions of his own.[12]

Quotes
  • The commandment to love one's neighbor[13] must be observed even in the execution of a criminal, since he should be granted as easy a death as possible.[14]

References
  1. Sanhedrin 63a; Shabbat 129b, 130b; Eruvin 75b, 85a, 86a; Gittin 62b; and many other passages
  2. Letter of Sherira, l.c. p. 29
  3. Yevamot 115b; Shabbat 59b; Eruvin 26a
  4. Letter of Sherira Gaon, in Neubauer, "M. J. C." i. 23; Halevy, "Dorot ha-Rishonim," ii. 412
  5. Weiss, "Dor," iii. 176; Bacher, "Ag. Bab. Amor." p. 46
  6. B. Talmud, Yebamoth 115b; Erubin 26a
  7. Megillah 15b; Bava Metzia 114a,b
  8. Bava Metzia 114a,b
  9. Bava Metzia 114b
  10. e.g., Berachot 53b; Shabbat 57a; Shevuot 49b
  11. e.g., Bava Kamma 46b; Shabbat 149a
  12. e.g., Berachot 21b; Shabbat 76b; Bava Metzia 91b
  13. Leviticus 19:18
  14. Ketuvot 37b

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "RABBAH B. ABUHA". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.



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