Rabbah bar Abuha

He was a student of Rav,[1] and resided at Nehardea of Babylonia. He was the teacher and father-in-law of Rav Nachman. After Nehardea had been destroyed by Papa ben Neser in 259, he moved to Shekunzib (Hinzebu), and then again moved to Shilhe, then to Mahuza,[2] where he settled along with Rav Nachman, and became a religious judge. There are allusions to a number of decisions and rulings made by him while at Mahuza.[3]

He was related to the house of the exilarchs[4] and is even said to have been an exilarch himself.[5] Sherira Gaon claimed to be a descendant of his, and of the Davidic line.[6]

According to legend, Rabbah was a friend of the prophet Elijah,[7] who gave him leaves from paradise, so that he became rich.[8]

Rabbah was not a prominent teacher; and he himself admitted that he was not thoroughly versed even in the four orders of the Mishnah, which were generally studied in the schools.[9] Some of his interpretations of various mishnaic passages have been preserved,[10] as well as confirmations of earlier halakhot[11] and halakhic decisions of his own.[12]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "RABBAH B. ABUHA". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.