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: 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 ''Amoraim'' (around 500 ...
sage of the first generation of the
Savora
A ''Savora'' (; 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 ''Amoraim'' (around 500 ...
era. R. Ahai is the most recorded
Savora
A ''Savora'' (; 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 ''Amoraim'' (around 500 ...
sage in the
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 cen ...
. His thorough questions in the
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 cen ...
are introduced with the phrase: "R. Ahai retorted:...". The sages of the
Land of Israel 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, the head of the academy of Pumbedita.
[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 cen ...
, Ta'anit
A ta'anit or ta'anis (Mishnaic Hebrew: תענית) is a 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 not consi ...
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
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