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Abba Ben Joseph Bar Ḥama
Abba ben Joseph bar Ḥama ( – 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 (city), 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 Rav Chisda's daughter. 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mahoza
Al-Mada'in (, ; ''Māḥozā''; ) was an ancient metropolis situated on the Tigris in what is now Iraq. It was located between the ancient royal centers of Ctesiphon and Seleucia, and was founded by the Sasanian Empire. The city's name was used by Arabs as a synonym for the Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon, in a tradition that continued after the Arab conquest of Iran. Foundation and constitution According to myth, al-Mada'in was constructed by the legendary Iranian kings Tahmuras or Hushang, who named it Kardbandad. The city was then later rebuilt by the legendary Iranian king Zab, the Macedonian king Alexander the Great (r. 356–323 BCE) and the Sasanian emperor Shapur II (r. 309–379 CE). According to another folklore, the names of five (or seven) cities that al-Mada'in comprised were Aspanbur, Veh-Ardashir, Hanbu Shapur, Darzanidan, Veh Jondiu-Khosrow, Nawinabad and Kardakadh. Sasanian period According to Perso-Arabic sources, Ctesiphon, the capital of the Sasania ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rav Yosef Bar Hiyya
Rav Yosef bar Hiyya (), or simply Rav Yosef, was a Babylonian rabbi of the third generation of amoraim. Biography Yosef was a student of Judah bar Ezekiel and was Abaye's teacher, and a scholarly disputant (''bar plugata'') of Rabbah bar Nahmani. When his teacher Judah died, Yosef was expected to take Judah's place as the gaon of the Pumbedita Academy, due to his excellent knowledge of rabbinic law (as opposed to Rabbah, who excelled in analysis rather than knowledge). Yosef, however, refused to take the position. Rabbah took it instead at the age of 18 and held it until his death at the age of 40. At this point, Yosef agreed to become head of the academy. He held this position for two years, until he died. Yosef was accustomed to recite a sermon on Shabbat before the mussaf prayer. Despite being blind, Yosef managed to accumulate an exceptional knowledge of both written and Oral Torah. When some of the canonical Biblical translations were forgotten, he managed to restore them ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kohen
Kohen (, ; , ، Arabic كاهن , Kahen) is the Hebrew word for "priest", used in reference to the Aaronic Priest#Judaism, priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. They are traditionally believed, and halakha, halakhically required, to be of direct Patrilineality, patrilineal descent from the biblical Aaron (also ''Aharon''), brother of Moses, and thus belong to the Tribe of Levi. During the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem (and previously the Tabernacle), ''kohanim'' performed the Temple korban, sacrificial offerings, which were only permitted to be offered by them. Following Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE), its destruction, it seems that most of them joined the Synagogal Judaism, Synagogal Jewish movement before adopting gradually Rabbinic Judaism, other types of Judaism, List of converts to Christianity from Judaism, Christianity or List of converts to Islam from Judaism, Islam. Today, ''kohanim'' retain a lesser though distinct status within Rabbinic Judaism, Rabbinic ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tosafot
The Tosafot, Tosafos or Tosfot () are Middle Ages, medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes. The authors of the Tosafot are known as Tosafists; for a listing (see List of Tosafists.) Meaning of name The word ''tosafot'' literally means "additions". The reason for the title is a matter of dispute among modern scholars. Many of them, including Heinrich Graetz, think the glosses are so-called as additions to Rashi's commentary on the Talmud. In fact, the period of the Tosafot began immediately after Rashi had written his commentary; the first tosafists were Rashi's sons-in-law and grandsons, and the Tosafot consist mainly of strictures on Rashi's commentary. Others, especially Isaac Hirsch Weiss, object that many tosafot — particularly those of Isaiah di Trani — have no reference to Rashi. Weiss, followed by other scholars, assert ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rabbah Bar Nahmani
Rabbah bar Naḥmani () (died c. 320 CE) was a Jewish Talmudist known throughout the Talmud simply as Rabbah. He was a third-generation amora of the talmudic academies in Babylonia, which were in Asoristan, the Lower Mesopotamian part of the Sasanian Empire. Biography Rabbah was a kohen descended from Eli the shofet. He was a student of Rav Huna at Sura Academy and of Judah bar Ezekiel at Pumbedita Academy. Huna seldom decided a question of importance without consulting him. His brethren in the Talmudic academies in Syria Palaestina wrote to Rabbah to move to Palestine, where he would find a teacher in Johanan bar Nappaha; it would be far better for him to have a guide than to rely on himself in his studies. However, Rabbah never left Mesopotamia. Upon the death of Judah bar Ezekiel, Rabbah succeeded as resh mthivtā (; he held the post until his death 22 years later. He is also said to have lived in poverty, but little else is known about his private life. Resident ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzchaki (; ; ; 13 July 1105) was a French rabbi who authored comprehensive commentaries on the Talmud and Hebrew Bible. He is commonly known by the List of rabbis known by acronyms, Rabbinic acronym Rashi (). Born in Troyes, Rashi studied Torah studies in Worms, Germany, Worms under German rabbi Yaakov ben Yakar and French rabbi Isaac ben Eliezer Halevi, both of whom were pupils of the famed scholar Gershom ben Judah. After returning to Troyes, Rashi joined the , began answering Halakha, halakhic questions and later served as the 's head after the death of Zerach ben Abraham. Rashi is generally considered a leading biblical exegete in the Middle Ages. Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi's commentaries appeal to both learned scholars and beginning students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Torah study. A large fraction of rabbinic literature published since the Middle Ages discusses Ra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eli (biblical Figure)
Eli (, ; ; , 11th century BC) was, according to the Book of Samuel, a priest and a Biblical judges, judge of the Israelites in the city of Shiloh (biblical city), Shiloh, History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel. When Hannah (biblical figure), Hannah came to Shiloh to pray for a son, Eli initially accused her of Alcohol intoxication, drunkenness, but when she protested her innocence, Eli wished her well. Hannah's eventual child, Samuel, was raised by Eli in the tabernacle. When Eli failed to rein in the abusive behavior of his own sons, Yahweh, God promised to punish his family, which resulted in the death of Eli's sons at the Battle of Aphek where the Ark of the Covenant was also captured. When Eli heard the news of the captured Ark, he fell from his seat, broke his neck, and died. Later biblical passages mention the fortunes of several of Eli's descendants. Eli occupies a prominent place in Samaritanism, Samaritan religious tradition, as the Samaritans attribute ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sherira Gaon
Sherira bar Hanina (), more commonly known as Sherira Gaon (; ), was the gaon of the Pumbedita Academy in Lower Mesopotamia. He was one of the most prominent geonim of the period. His son Hai succeeded him as gaon. He wrote the '' Iggeret of Rabbi Sherira Gaon'', a comprehensive history of the composition of the Talmud.Abraham ibn Daud, "Sefer ha-Ḳabbalah," in Adolf Neubauer, ''Medieval Jewish Chronicles'' (Oxford, 1887) , i. 66-67 Life Sherira was born circa 906, a descendant, both on his father's and his mother's side of prominent families, several of whom had occupied the gaonate. His father was Hananiah bar Yehudai, also a gaon. Sherira claimed descent from the amora Rabbah bar Abuha, who belonged to the family of the Exilarch, thereby claiming descent from the Davidic line. Sherira stated that his genealogy could be traced back to the pre- Bostanaian branch of that family, which, he claimed, on account of the deterioration of the exilarchate had renounced its clai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hagiga
Hagigah or Chagigah () is one of the tractates comprising Moed, one of the six orders of the Mishnah, a collection of Jewish traditions included in the Talmud. It deals with the Three Pilgrimage Festivals of Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot and the pilgrimage offering that men were supposed to bring to the Temple in Jerusalem. In the middle of the second chapter, the text discusses topics of ritual purity. The tractate contains three chapters, spanning 27 pages in the Vilna Edition Shas of the Babylonian Talmud, making it relatively short. The second chapter contains much early aggadah, discussing the Genesis creation narrative and early merkabah mysticism. Its content is relatively light and uncomplicated except for the third chapter. References External links Mishnah Chagigah text in Hebrew [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ta'anit (Talmud)
''Ta'anit'' or ''Taynis'' () is a volume (or "tractate") of the Mishnah, Tosefta, and both Talmuds. In Judaism these are the basic works of rabbinic literature. The tractate of Ta'anit is devoted chiefly to the fast-days, their practices and prayers. In most editions of the Talmud this treatise is the ninth in the mishnaic order of Seder Mo'ed, and is divided into four chapters containing thirty-four folio in all. Summary The main contents of the Ta'anit are as follows: * Chapter 1: Concerning the date on which one begin to mention rain in the second blessing of the Amidah and to pray for rain in the eighth blessing (1:1-3); the time during which one fasts on account of scarcity of rain—two successive periods of three days each, and a final one of seven days—and the distinctions between these various days concerning strictness in fasting (1:4-6); nature of the national mourning in case no rain falls despite many fast-days (1:7). * Chapter 2: The ceremonies which must b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sasanian Empire
The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranian peoples, Iranians"), was an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, the length of the Sasanian dynasty's reign over ancient Iran was second only to the directly preceding Arsacid dynasty of Parthia. Founded by Ardashir I, whose rise coincided with the decline of Arsacid influence in the face of both internal and external strife, the House of Sasan was highly determined to restore the legacy of the Achaemenid Empire by expanding and consolidating the Iranian nation's dominions. Most notably, after defeating Artabanus IV of Parthia during the Battle of Hormozdgan in 224, it began competing far more zealously with the neighbouring Roman Empire than the Arsacids had, thus sparking a new phase of the Roman–Iranian Wars. This effort by Ardashir's dynasty ultimately re-established Iran as a major power of late an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shapur II
Shapur II ( , 309–379), also known as Shapur the Great, was the tenth King of Kings (List of monarchs of the Sasanian Empire, Shahanshah) of Sasanian Iran. He took the title at birth and held it until his death at age 70, making him the List of longest-reigning monarchs, longest-reigning monarch in History of Iran, Iranian history. He was the son of Hormizd II (). His reign saw the military resurgence of the country and the expansion of its territory, which marked the start of the first Sasanian golden era. Thus, along with Shapur I, Kavad I and Khosrow I, he is regarded as one of the most illustrious Sasanian kings. His three direct successors, on the other hand, were less successful. At the age of 16, he launched enormously successful military campaigns against Arab insurrections and tribes. Shapur II pursued a harsh religious policy. Under his reign, the collection of the Avesta, the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, was completed, heresy and apostasy were punished, and Chri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
