Rabbinical eras

Rav Mesharshiya [1][2] (or R. Mesharshya,[3] or Rav Mesharsheya,[4] or Rav Mesharshia; Hebrew: רב משרשיא) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the fifth generation of amoraim.

Biography

It would appear that "Rav Acha the son of Rav" was his grandfather, making Mesharshiya himself a great-grandson of the great Amora Rav.[5] His father-in-law appears under the name "R. Kahana the father-in-law of R. Mesharshiya".[6]

His principle teacher was Rava, and they are mentioned together dozens of times in the Talmud. It is possible he was also a pupil of Abaye.[7] He was a close colleague of Rav Papa, who was also a pupil of Rava, and he even sent his son to study under Rav Papa.[8] R. Joseph the son of R. Ila'i was also among his colleagues.[9]

Three of his sons became Amora sages. Their names were Raba,[10] R. Sama,[11] and R. Isaac.[12]

It is said that when he died, the palm trees became full of thorns in place of dates, as a sign of mourning.[13]

References

  1. ^ Rav Mesharshiya | רב משרשיא, sages of the talmud | חכמי התלמוד
  2. ^ On his son: TANNAIM AND AMORAIM, jewishencyclopedia.com; "Rabbah b. Mesharshiya"
  3. ^ Tractate Bava Batra, 97b [1]
  4. ^ On his son: "Raba b. Mesharsheya": Tractate Nazir, 40b [2]
  5. ^ Sanhedrin 77a
  6. ^ Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 97b
  7. ^ In the Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 33a, Abaye says to him : ‘Am I not your teacher par excellence?!’, though it is possible he said so because he was Gedol haDor (Aaron Hyman)
  8. ^ Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 48a
  9. ^ Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 26a
  10. ^ Babylonian Talmud, Nazir 40b
  11. ^ Babylonian Talmud, Hullin 17b
  12. ^ R. Judah ben Kalonymus, Yihusei Tannaim ve-Amoraim, based on the Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 8b
  13. ^ Moed Kattan 25b


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