Rav Ḥisda | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 228 CE Kafri, Asoristan, Lower Mesopotamia |
| Died | c. 320 CE |
| Burial place | Jamnia,Upper Galilee 32°59′29″N35°31′01″E / 32.99139°N 35.51694°E /32.99139; 35.51694 |
| Occupation(s) | Rabbi, Talmudist |
| Known for | Contributions to Talmudic law and aggadah |
| Notable work | Casuistic teachings, halakhot, ethical teachings |
| Rabbinical eras |
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Rav Ḥisda (Hebrew:רב חסדא) was a JewishTalmudist who lived inKafri,Asoristan inLower Mesopotamia near what is now the city ofNajaf, Iraq. He was anamora of the third generation (died c. 320 CE[1] at the age of ninety-two[2]), and is mentioned frequently in theTalmud.
Rav Ḥisda descended from apriestly family.[3] He studied underAbba Arikha "the Rav", who was his principal teacher and after the latter's death he attended the lectures ofRav Huna, a companion of the same age. The pair were called "the Hasidim of Babylon".[4] Rav Ḥisda was also among those calledtzadikim, those who couldbring down rain by their prayers.[2]
At first, he was so poor that he abstained from vegetables because they increased his appetite,[5] and when he walked in thorny places he raised his garments, saying: "The breaches in my legs will heal of themselves but the breaches in my garments will not".[6] At the age of sixteen he married the daughter ofHanan bar Rava[7] and together they had seven or more sons and two daughters. Later, as abrewer, he became very wealthy.[8] Two of his pupils,Rami bar Hama and laterRava, marriedRav Chisda's daughter.[9]
Rav Ḥisda was a greatcasuist,[10] his acute mind greatly enhanced the fame of Rav Huna's academy inSura, but his very acuteness indirectly caused a rupture between himself and Rav Huna. The separation was brought about by a question from Rav Ḥisda as to the obligations of a disciple toward a master to whom he is indispensable. Rav Huna saw the point and said, "Ḥisda, I do not need you; it is you that needs me!". Forty years passed before they became reconciled.[11] Rav Ḥisda nevertheless heldRav Huna in great esteem, and although he had established a school built at his own expense inMata Mehasya four years before Rav Huna's death,[12] he never published any decision duringRav Huna's lifetime.[13] Rav Huna came to recognize Rav Ḥisda's merit later and recommended his son,Rabbah bar Rav Huna, to attend his lectures.[14]
Rav Ḥisda also presided over Sura for ten years following the death ofJudah bar Ezekiel,[15] or following the death ofRav Huna, according toAbraham ibn Daud.[16] He always preserved great respect for the memory of Abba Arikha, whom he referred to as "our great teacher, may God aid him".[17] Once, holding up the gifts which are given to thekohenim, he declared that he would give them to the man who could cite a previously unknownhalakha in the name of Abba Arikha.[18] After Rav Ḥisda's death, no one succeeded him as therosh mesivta of Sura and the central Talmudic authority passed to Rabbah inPumbedita.
Rav Ḥisda's halakhot are frequent throughout the Babylonian Talmud, some being given on the authority of his pupils. His principal opponent wasSheshet. Besides deducing his halakhot in a casuistic way, Rav Ḥisda was peculiar in that he derived his halakhot less from theTorah than from other parts of the Bible.
Rav Ḥisda was also an authority inaggadah, and employed special assistants to lecture in that department.[19] Many ethical teachings by him have been preserved[20] for students, such as: "Forbearance on the part of a father toward his child may be permitted, but not forbearance on the part of a master toward his disciple"[21] and "He who opposes his master is as though he opposed theShekhinah".[22] It was said that theAngel of Death, not being able to approach Rav Ḥisda because he never ceased from studying, cleft the trunk of a cedar-tree. Terrified by the noise, Rav Ḥisda interrupted his studies, whereupon the angel took his soul.[23]
Rav Chisda's remains are said to have been brought toJamnia inUpper Galilee for burial.[24]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Isidore Singer andM. Seligsohn (1901–1906)."Hisda". InSinger, Isidore; et al. (eds.).The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. It has the following bibliography:
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