Ulla (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

: עוּלָּא) was a ''

halakhist ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is based on biblical commandments ('' mit ...

'' and '' Amora'' from the

Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine. The definition ...

during the late 3rd and early 4th centuries CE known for his frequent travels to and from the centers of

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

learning in contemporary

Babylonia Babylonia (; , ) was an Ancient history, ancient Akkadian language, Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in the city of Babylon in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq and parts of Kuwait, Syria and Iran). It emerged as a ...

Biography

In his youth, Ulla studied under Rabbi Eleazar II, transmitting nine of his teacher's ''halakhic'' sayings. He was greatly respected for his learning, and during his visits to

, he seems to have been frequently invited by the ''Resh Galuta'' to deliver ''halakhic'' lectures. He traveled repeatedly to the

Talmudic academies in Babylonia The Talmudic academies in Babylonia, also known as the Geonic academies, were the center for Jewish scholarship and the development of Halakha during the Geonic era (from c. 589 to 1038 CE; Hebrew dates: 4349 AM to 4798 AM) in what is called ...

; on one of his journeys, he was in danger of

assassination Assassination is the willful killing, by a sudden, secret, or planned attack, of a personespecially if prominent or important. It may be prompted by political, ideological, religious, financial, or military motives. Assassinations are orde ...

by one of his companions, saving his life only by condoning the murder of another. Ulla rendered important decisions regarding the benedictions and the calculation of the

new moon In astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude. At this phase, the lunar disk is not visible to the naked eye, except when it is silhouetted against the Sun during a solar eclipse. ...

and was accustomed to promulgate his rulings in Babylonia during his visits. He was very strict in his interpretation of

religious law Religious law includes ethical and moral codes taught by religious traditions. Examples of religiously derived legal codes include Christian canon law (applicable within a wider theological conception in the church, but in modern times distin ...

. On one occasion, when he heard

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 CE (212 CE according to Gratz) and died in 296–297 ...

use an expression of which he did not approve, Ulla retorted, "As

vinegar Vinegar () is an aqueous solution of diluted acetic acid and trace compounds that may include flavorings. Vinegar typically contains from 5% to 18% acetic acid by volume. Usually, the acetic acid is produced by a double fermentation, converting ...

to the

teeth A tooth (: teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, tear ...

, and as

smoke Smoke is an aerosol (a suspension of airborne particulates and gases) emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwante ...

eyes An eye is a sensory organ that allows an organism to perceive visual information. It detects light and converts it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons (neurones). It is part of an organism's visual system. In higher organisms, the ey ...

, so are the words of Rav Huna." Only in the presence of

Rav Nachman Rav Nachman bar Yaakov (; died 320) was a prominent Jewish Talmudic sage ( Amora) of the third generation, who lived in Babylonia. He is generally identified with the figure referred to simply as ''Rav Nachman'' in the Babylonian Talmud. He was ...

did Ulla hesitate to pronounce his opinions, generally waiting until Nachman had departed; at the same time, he frequently sought out Nachman's company. Of his contemporaries with whom he engaged in controversies may be mentioned (besides Rav Nachman)

Rabbi Abba Rabbi Abba () was an Amoraim, amora (Talmud rabbi) of Talmudic academies in Babylonia, Babylonian birth who lived in the third and fourth centuries. He was a pupil of Rabbis Rav Huna, Huna and Judah bar Ezekiel, the Babylonian masters, and settl ...

, Abimi bar Papa, Hiyya bar Ammi, and Rabbi Judah. His close friend, with whom he associated most frequently, was

Rabbah bar bar Hana Rabbah bar bar Hana (רבה בר בר חנה) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an Amora of the third generation. Biography He was Hana's grandson and Hiyya's brother. He went to Israel and became a pupil of Johanan bar Nap ...

. In addition to the sayings of his teacher Eleazar, Ulla transmitted those of Rav Hoshaiah,

Joshua ben Levi Joshua ben Levi or Yehoshua ben Levi (220 – 250 CE) was an amora—a scholar of Jewish law during the period in which the Gemara was codified—who lived in the Land of Israel in the first half of the third century. He lived and taught in the ...

Rabbi Johanan Yohanan ('), sometimes transcribed as Johanan, is a Hebrew male given name that can also appear in the longer form of ('), meaning "YHWH is gracious". The name is ancient, recorded as the name of Johanan, high priest of the Second Temple around ...

Rav ''Rav'' (or ''Rab'', Modern Hebrew: ) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah or is a Jewish spiritual guide or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (in the Talmud) states (1:6) that: The term ''rav'' is also Hebrew for ''rabbi ...

, and

Shimon ben Lakish Shimon ben Lakish (; ''Shim‘on bar Lakish'' or ''bar Lakisha''), better known by his nickname Reish Lakish (c. 200 — c. 275), was an amora who lived in the Roman province of Judaea in the third century. He was said to be born in Bosra, eas ...

. His own sayings were transmitted by Rav Aḥa bar Adda,

Hamnuna Hamnuna (Hebrew: המנונא) is the name of several rabbis from the period of the Talmud, among them: * Hamnuna Saba ("the elder"). Second generation Babylonian amora (mid third century CE). A pupil of Rav. After Rav, he became the head of t ...

Hiyya bar Abba Ḥiyya bar Abba (), Ḥiyya bar Ba (), or Ḥiyya bar Wa () was a third-generation amoraic sage of the Land of Israel, of priestly descent, who flourished at the end of the third century. Biography In both Talmuds he is frequently called me ...

, Hiyya bar Ammi, Ravin bar Hinana,

Rav Chisda Rav Ḥisda () 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), and is menti ...

, Judah bar Ammi, and Joshua bar Abba. Raba appears to have been his only son. Ulla died in Babylonia before his teacher Rabbi Eleazar; his remains were taken to Palestine for burial.

Quotes

* "Jerusalem is only redeemed by ''tzedakah''." * "Since the time of the Temple's destruction, the Holy One, blessed be He, has nothing in His world save only four cubits of ''

Halakha ''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Torah, Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is ...

''! (i.e., the

Divine Presence Divine presence, presence of God, Inner God, or simply presence is a concept in religion, spirituality, and theology that deals with the ability of a deity to be "present" with human beings, sometimes associated with omnipresence. Conceptualiza ...

is found wherever Israel observes Jewish law)."Berakhot 8a
/ref>

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ulla Talmud rabbis of Syria Palaestina 3rd-century births 4th-century deaths Place of birth unknown