Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 20, scan section 9

* In a more restricted meaning the term Amora{irom. 10K, to say, to speak) sig- nifies the same zs AIethurgeman{\hQ interpreter), that is, the officer in the academies who, standing at the side of the lecturer or presiding teacher, had to announce loudly and explain to the large assembly what the teacher just expressed briefly and in a low voice. The term Tana, which generally applies only to the teachers mentioned in the Mishna and Boraitha, is in the period of Amoraim sometimes used also to signify one whose special business it was to recite the memorized Boraithoth to the expounding teachers. In this sense the term is to be understood in the phrase : A Tana (teacher) repeated a Boraitha (or taught same) before so and so, etc. 84 THE HISTORY OF THE TALMUD. are contained in the following chronological tables of the six generations of Amoraim.* The First Generation of Amoraim. A. Palestinian (219-279). B. Babylonian (219-257). 1 . R. Chanina bar Chama. i . Abba Areca, called simply 2. R. Jochanan (bar Napacha), Rab. 3. R. Simon ben Lakish (Resh 2. (Mar) Samuel. Lakish). 4. R. Joshua ben Levi. Strack adds to the first generation of the Palestinian, (5) Hama b. Biza; (6) Janai; (7) Jehuda; and (8) Hiskiah sons of Hyye; (9) Bnya or Bnaah; (10) Pdaya or Jehuda b. Pdaya; (11) Hoshia b. Hanninah b. Biza, named Rabbh the Great; (12) Jose b. Zimra; (13) Simon b. Yehozodak. To the Babylonian Amoraim he adds, (3) Shila; (4) Abba b. Abba (father of Mar Samuel) ; (5) Kama t ; (6) Mar Uqba (the Exilarch). All the Palestinian Amoraim named here are very often mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud, and as their biograph- ical sketches are interesting we could not omit them. Biographical Sketches. A. PALESTINIAN AMORAIM. During this generation R. Gamaliel IIL and R. Judah IL were successively the patriarchs. I. R. Chanina bar Chama (bom about 180, died 260), was a disciple of R. Jehuda Hanasi, whose son and successor, R. Gamaliel IIL, bestowed on him the title of Rabbi. He then presided over his own academy in Sepphoris and stood in high regard on account of his learning, modesty and piety. As * Some scholars count the semi-Tanaira as the first generation, and have con- sequently seven instead of six generations. The period of Palestinian Amoraim being much shorter than that of the Babylonian, ends with the third generation of the latter. Frankel in his introduction to the Palestinian Talmud, treating especially of the Palestinian Amoraim, divides them also into six generations. f Who was appointed by Mar Samuel to examine Rab. (Will be translated in Tract Kethubath.) HISTORICAL AND LITERARY INTRODUCTION. 25 teacher he was very conservative, transmitting that only which he had received by tradition, without ever allowing himself an independent decision. Of his prominent contemporaries are : R. Ephes, who reopened a school at Lydda, in South Judea ; Levi h. Sissi (called simply Levi), who, though not presiding over an academy, was a distinguished teacher, and later emi- grated to Babylonia; further Chizkia, who was a son of R. Chiya the Elder, and whose teachings are frequently quoted in the Talmud. This Chizkia, who had not the title of Rabbi, must not be mistaken for R. Chizkia, who belonged to the third generation. 2. R. Jochanan bar Napacha, in general called simply R. Jochanan (bom about 199, died 279), was in his early youth a disciple of R. Jehuda Hanasi, later of R. Oshaya in Cassarea, also of R. Janai, and especially of R. Chanina b. Chama. He then founded his own academy in Tiberias, which henceforth became the principal seat of learning in the Holy Land. By his great mental powers he excelled all his contemporaries, and is regarded the chief Amora of Palestine. In expounding the Mishna he introduced an analytical method, and laid down certain rules for the final decision in such cases in which the Tanaim expressed opposite opinions. His legal teachings, ethical aphorisms, and exegetical remarks, transmitted by his numerous disciples, form the principal elements of the Gemara. He is supposed to have laid the foundation of the Palestinian Talmud, though, in its present shape, this work can not have been compiled before at least one century after R. Jochanan's death.* 3, R. Simon h. Lakish, whose name is generally abbrevi- ated to Resh Lakish, was a man who combined great physical strength with a noble heart and a powerful mind. It is said that in his youth he was compelled by circumstances to gain his livelihood as a gladiator or soldier, until making the ac- quaintance of R. Jochanan, who gained him for the study of the law and gave him his sister in marriage. Having developed * As to further characteristics of this and the other prominent Amoraim, the fol- lowing works may be consulted : Graetz, " History of the Jews," Vol. IV.; Z. Fran- kel, " Mebo" ; I. H. Weiss, " Dor Dor," Vol. III.; I. Hamburger, " Real Encyclo- padie," Vol. II. Besides, J. Furst, " Kultur und Literaturgeschichte der Juden in Asien," which treats especially of the Babylonian academies and teachers during thr period of the Amoraim. 26 THE HISTORY OF THE TALMUD. extraordinary mental and dialectical powers, he became R. Jochanan's most distinguished friend and colleague. In the interpretation of the Mishna and in legal questions they differed, however, very often, and their numerous controversies are re- ported in the Babylonian Talmud as well as in the Palestinian. Also is his Hagadic teachings, Resh Lakish was original and ad- vanced some very rational views. 4. R. Joshua b. Levi (ben Sissi) presided over an academy in Lydda. He is regarded as a great authority in the law, and his decisions prevail even in cases where his celebrated con- temporaries, R. Jochanan and Resh Lakish differ from him. Though himself a prolific Hagadist, he disapproved of the vagaries of the Hagada, and objected to their being written down in books. The circumstance that, on a certain occasion, his prayer for rain proved to be efficient, probably gave rise to the mystic legends with which the fancy of later genera- tions tried to illustrate his great piety. To other celebrities flourishing in this generation belongs R. Simlai of Lydda, who later settled in Nahardea. He was re- puted less as teacher of the Halakha than for his ingenious and lucid method of treating the Hagada. B. BABYLONIAN AMORAIM. I. Ahha Areca (or Aricha) was the real name of the chief Babylonian Amora, who, by way of eminence, is generally called Rah (the Teacher). He was bom about 175 and died 247. As an orphaned youth he went to his uncle, the celebrated R. Chiya in Palestine, to finish his studies in the academy of R. Jehuda Hanasi. The mental abilities which he displayed soon attracted general attention. After the death of R. Jehuda, Abba returned to his native country, and in the year 219