Amoraim

Amoraim ( Judeo-Aramaic : , singular "those who say") is a generic term for the doctors of the Talmud , which operate between the close of the Mishnah (circa 200 CE) and the compilation of Talmud (circa 400 EC the Jerusalem Talmud , a century later to the Babylonian Talmud ).

The era saw the emergence of Amoraim, near the center of the Jewish land of Israel , located first at Sepphoris , Lower Galilee, then to Tiberias , the Babylonian center, whose main focus is the academy of Sura , and incidentally that of Pumbedita. Although largely independent, extensive correspondence transmitted in the land of Israel from Babylon issues and lessons "of the west" to them.

Amora was originally a title given to the sages who translated the master's teaching from the Mishnaic Hebrew scholars in Jewish-Aramaic spoken by the masses, as well as during public readings of the Torah on Monday and Thursday of scholars ensured the simultaneous translation in Judeo-Aramaic.
He then became the assistant master, one who develops the comments and opinions that the teacher had briefly made. In this sense it is adopted by all the Sages, who saw themselves as little more than the transmitters of the lessons of Tannaim (doctors of the Mishnah).

The era of Amoraim

The first of Babylonia were Amoraim Abba Arika , Rav respectfully nicknamed, some teachings are still recorded in the Baraita , and his contemporary, Shmuel who was also his opponent. Among the earliest and most prominent Amoraim of the land of Israel are Rabbi Yohanan and Lachish Rech.

It is generally believed that Period Amoraim extends over seven or eight generations (depending on selected benchmarks). The latter are generally considered to be Amoraim Ravina I , Rav Ashi and Ravina II , nephew of Ravina I, who codified the Babylonian Talmud to 500 of the Common Era.

Major Amoraim

The Talmud expose the views of several hundred Amoraim, some are known only by a single opinion, while others were often cited and used as an example. These are listed below:

First generation (circa. 230-250 CE)

• Abba Arika (who died in 247 , better known by the name of Rav): last and first he enjoyed the teaching of Judah ha-Nasi. Originally from Babylon, he returned in 219 and founded the academy of Sura , and was its first director.
• Shmuel (d. 254 ): disciple of Judah ha-Nasi and others, he led the school competing Nehardea , which he made an academy ( metivta ).
• Yeshoshoua ben Levi (early ^third century ), director of the academy of Lydda , founded by Rabbi Eliezer.
• Abba the Surgeon

Second generation (circa. 250-290 CE)

• Rav Huna (d. 297 ), disciple of Rav and Shmuel, he succeeded in the first head of the academy of Sura.
• Rabbi Yehuda (d. 299 ), disciple of Rav and Shmuel, he founded the Academy Pumbedita.
• Adda bar Ahava , (3-4 ^centuries), disciple of Rav.
• Judah II (early ^third century ), disciple and grandson son of Judah ha-Nasi , he succeeded his father Gamaliel III to the position of Nassi. It is sometimes called Rabbi Judah Nessi'ah and occasionally Rebbi as his grandfather.
• Hillel, son of Gamaliel III (early ^third century ), disciple and grandson son of Judah ha-Nasi , Judah's younger brother Nessiah.
• Resh Lachish (died late ^third century ), disciple of Rabbi Yannai , he was a colleague and opponent of Rabbi Yohanan.
• Yohanan bar Nappaha (d. 279 or 289 ): disciple of Judah ha-Nasi and Rabbi Yannai , he was the director of the Yeshiva of Tiberias , and one of the primary authors of the Jerusalem Talmud.
• Samuel ben Nahman
• Shila of Kefar Tamarta
• Isaac Nappaha

Third generation (circa 290-320 CE)

• Rabba (d. 320 ): disciple of Rav Huna and Rav Yehuda , he headed the Yeshiva of Pumbedita.
• Rav Yosef (d. 323 ): disciple of Rav Huna and Rav Yehuda , he headed the Yeshiva of Pumbedita.
• Rav Ze'ra
• HisD Rav (d. 309 ), disciple of Rav , Shmuel and Rav Huna , he directed the Academy of Sura.
• Shimon ben Pazzi
• Rav Chechet
• Rav Nachman bar Yaakov (d. 320 ): disciple of Rav , Shmuel and Rabba bar Avouha he did not direct his own yeshiva but participated regularly in discussions of Sura and Mahoza yeshivas.
• Rabbi Abbahou (death in the early ^fourth century ): a disciple of Rabbi Yohanan , he directed the Academy of Caesarea.
• Hamnuna - several Amoraim bear this name. The most famous quotes of the teachings in the name of Shmuel.
• Judah III (who died in the early ^fourth century ): a disciple of Rabbi Yohanan , he succeeded his father Gamaliel IV load Nassi.
• Rav Ammi
• Rav Assi
• Hanina ben Pappa
• Rabbah bar R'Huna
• Rami Bar Hama

Fourth generation (circa 320-350 CE)

• Abaye (d. 339 ): disciple of Rabbah , Rav Yosef , and Rabbi Nachman , he directed the Academy of Pumbedita.
• Rava (d. 352 ), disciple of Rabbah , Rav Yosef , and Rabbi Nachman , opponent of Abaye he headed the yeshiva of Mahouza.
• Hillel II (circa 360 ): son and successor of Judah III borne by Nassi , it is the origin of the Hebrew calendar currently used.

Fifth generation (circa 350-371 CE)

• Rav Nahman bar Yitzhak (d. 356 ): disciple Abaye and Rava, he directed the Academy Pumbedita.
• Rav Papa (d. 371 or 375 ), disciple of Abaye and Rava, he directed the Academy of Naresh.
• Rabbi Hama
• Rav Huna bera Deravi Yehoshua

sixth generation (circa 371-427 CE)

• Rav Ashi (d. 427 ): disciple Abaye, Rava and Rav Kahana , he dirigeala Mata Mehasia yeshiva, which many equate with Soura. He initiated the drafting of the Babylonian Talmud.
• Ravina I (d. 421 ), disciple of Abaye and Rava, a colleague of Rabbi Ashi at Yeshiva Mehasia Mata, he assisted in drafting the Babylonian Talmud.

Seventh generation (circa 425-460 CE)

No Amora seems to have been particularly noticeable early in the compilation of the Babylonian Talmud.

Eighth generation (circa 460-500 CE)

• Ravina II (died 475 or 500 ): a disciple of his uncle I Ravina and Rav Ashi , he was the dean of the Yeshiva at Sura, where he finished writing the Babylonian Talmud.

External Links

• Gemara in the Talmud Map - University of Calgary
• Jewish Encyclopedia article for AMORA
• Biographies Of The Amoraim

• Portal of Jewish culture and Judaism

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