Amora

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The Amoraic era

Prominent Amoraim

First generation (approx. 230–250 CE)

• Abba Arika
  Abba Arika
  
  Abba Arika was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the 3rd century who established at Sura the systematic study of the rabbinic traditions, which, using the Mishnah as text, led to the compilation of the Talmud....
   (d. 247), known as Rav, last Tanna, first Amora. Disciple of Judah haNasi
  Judah haNasi
  
  Rabbi Judah haNasi, , also known as "Rabbi" and "Rabeinu HaKadosh" , was a key leader of the Jewish community of Judea toward the end of the 2nd century CE, during the occupation by the Roman Empire....
  . Moved from Israel to Babylonia (219). Founder and Dean of the Yeshiva
  Yeshiva
  
  Yeshiva or yeshivah , or metivta or mesivta ) also frequently referred to as a Beth midrash, Talmudical Academy, Rabbinical Academy or Rabbinical School is an institution unique to classical Judaism for Torah study, the study of Talmud, Rabbinic literature and History of responsa....
   at Sura
  Sura (city)
  
  Sura was a city in the southern part of ancient Babylonia, located west of the Euphrates River. It was well-known for its agriculture produce, which included grapes, wheat, and barley....
  .
• Shmuel
  Samuel of Nehardea
  
  Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia at Nehardea....
   (d. 254), disciple of Judah haNasi and others. Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita
  Pumbedita
  
  Pumbedita was the name of a city in ancient Babylonia that was a major center of Talmud scholarship that, together with the city of Sura , gave rise to the Babylonian Talmud....
  .
• Joshua ben Levi
  Joshua ben Levi
  
  Joshua ben Levi or Yehoshua ben Levi was an amora who lived in the land of Israel of the first half of the third century. He headed the school of Lod in the southern Land of Israel....
   (early 3rd century), headed the school of Lydda
  Lod
  
  Lod is a mixed Arab-Jewish city about 15 km southeast of Tel Aviv in the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2007, its population was 67,000....
  .
• Abba the Surgeon
  Abba the Surgeon
  
  Abba the Surgeon is a figure mentioned in the Talmud as an example of genuine Jewish piety and benevolence Although dependent upon his earnings, he was so unselfish and considerate that, in order to avoid embarrassing the poor among his patients, he would never accept pay directly from any one, but instead attached to a certain part of his h...
  
• Bar Kappara
  Bar Kappara
  
  Shimon Bar Kappara was a Jewish rabbi of the late second and early third century CE, during the period between the Mishnah and Amora. He was active in Caesarea Maritima in the Land of Israel, from around 180 to 220 CE....
  

Second generation (approx. 250–290 CE)

• Rav Huna
  Rav Huna
  
  Rav Huna was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 )....
   (d. 297), disciple of Rav
  Abba Arika
  
  Abba Arika was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the 3rd century who established at Sura the systematic study of the rabbinic traditions, which, using the Mishnah as text, led to the compilation of the Talmud....
   and Shmuel
  Samuel of Nehardea
  
  Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia at Nehardea....
  . Dean of the Yeshiva at Sura.
• Rav Yehudah
  Judah ben Ezekiel
  
  Judah ben Ezekiel , also known as Rav Yehuda, was a Jews of Babylonia amora of the 2nd generation. He was the most prominent disciple of Rav , in whose house he often stayed, and whose son Hiyya was his pupil ....
   (d. 299), disciple of Rav and Shmuel. Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita.
• Adda bar Ahavah
  Adda bar Ahavah
  
  Adda bar Ahavah or Adda bar Ahabah is the name of two Jewish rabbis and Talmudic scholars, known as Amoraim, who lived in Babylonia....
  , (3rd and 4th centuries), disciple of Rav.
• Hillel, son of Gamaliel III
  Hillel, son of Gamaliel III
  
  Hillel, son of Gamaliel III, was a Jewish scholar in the 3rd century CE. He was son of Gamaliel III, brother of Judah II, and probably a pupil of his grandfather Judah I....
   (fl. early 3rd century), disciple and grandson of Judah haNasi, and younger brother of Judah II
  Judah II
  
  Judah II was a famous Jewish sage who lived in Tiberias in the Land of Israel, in the middle of the third century CE. He is mentioned in the classical works of Judaism's oral law, the Mishnah and Talmud....
   (Judah Nesiah).
• Judah II
  Judah II
  
  Judah II was a famous Jewish sage who lived in Tiberias in the Land of Israel, in the middle of the third century CE. He is mentioned in the classical works of Judaism's oral law, the Mishnah and Talmud....
   (fl. early 3rd century), disciple and grandson of Judah haNasi, and son and successor of Gamaliel III as Nasi
  Nasi
  
  Nasi? is a Hebrew language title meaning prince, in Biblical Hebrew, or president, in Hebrew_language#Modern_Israeli_Hebrew....
  . Sometimes called Rabbi Judah Nesi'ah, and occasionally Rebbi like his grandfather.
• Resh Lakish (d. late 3rd century), disciple of Rabbi Yannai and others, and colleague of Rabbi Yochanan
  Yochanan bar Nafcha
  
  Rabbi Yochanan was a rabbi in the early era of the Talmud. He was born in Tzippori in the Land of Israel. His father, a blacksmith, died prior to his birth, and his mother died soon after; he was raised by his grandfather in Tzippori....
  .
• Rabbi Yochanan
  Yochanan bar Nafcha
  
  Rabbi Yochanan was a rabbi in the early era of the Talmud. He was born in Tzippori in the Land of Israel. His father, a blacksmith, died prior to his birth, and his mother died soon after; he was raised by his grandfather in Tzippori....
   (d. 279 or 289), disciple of Judah haNasi and Rabbi Yannai. Dean of the Yeshiva at Tiberias
  Tiberias
  
  Tiberias is a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, Lower Galilee, Israel. It was named in honour of the emperor Tiberius....
  . Primary author of the Jerusalem Talmud
  Jerusalem Talmud
  
  The Jerusalem Talmud or Talmud Yerushalmi , often the Yerushalmi for short, is a collection of rabbi notes about the Jewish Oral law as detailed in the 2nd-century Mishnah....
  .
• Samuel ben Nahman
  Samuel ben Nahman
  
  Samuel ben Nahman or Samuel Nahmani was a rabbi of the Judaism Talmud, known as an amora, who lived in the Land of Israel from the beginning of the 3rd century until the beginning of the 4th century....
  
• Shila of Kefar Tamarta
  Shila of Kefar Tamarta
  
  Shila of Kefar Tamarta was a Jewish Talmudist, an amora of the 3rd century, from the Land of Israel. In the Jerusalem Talmud sources he is called only by his personal name, but in the Babylonian Talmud the name of his home in Judea is always added, in order to distinguish him from an older Babylonian amora who bore the same name....
  
• Isaac Nappa?a

Third generation (approx. 290–320 CE)

• Rabbah
  Rabbah bar Nahmani
  
  Rabbah bar Nachmani was a Jewish Talmudist known as an amora, who lived in Babylonia, known throughout the Talmud simply as Rabbah.Rabbah was born into a priestly family, and studied at both the academies in Sura and Pumbedita....
   (d. 320), disciple of Rav Huna
  Rav Huna
  
  Rav Huna was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 )....
   and Rav Yehudah
  Judah ben Ezekiel
  
  Judah ben Ezekiel , also known as Rav Yehuda, was a Jews of Babylonia amora of the 2nd generation. He was the most prominent disciple of Rav , in whose house he often stayed, and whose son Hiyya was his pupil ....
  . Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita.
• Rav Yosef (d. 323), disciple of Rav Huna and Rav Yehudah. Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita.
• Rav Zeira
  Rav Zeira
  
  Ze'era or Zeira was a Jewish Talmudist, known as an amora, who lived in the Land of Israel, of the 3rd generation. He was born in Babylonia, where he spent his early youth....
   (Palestine)
• Rav Chisda
  Rav Chisda
  
  Rav Chisda was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the third generation , mentioned frequently in the Talmud....
   (d. 309), disciple of Rav, Shmuel, and Rav Huna. Dean of the Yeshiva at Sura.
• Simon (Shimeon) ben Pazzi
• Rav Sheshes
• Rav Nachman
  Rav Nachman
  
  Rav Nachman bar Yaakov was a Judaism Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an Amora of the third generation, and pupil of Samuel of Nehardea....
   (d. 320), disciple of Rav, Shmuel, and Rabbah bar Avuha. Did not head his own yeshiva, but was a regular participant in the discussions at the Yeshivot of Sura and Mahuza
  Mahuza
  
  Mahuza is the name given to the metropolis formed by Ctesiphon and Seleucia on the Tigris on opposite sides of the Tigris River. It was one of the cites of an early Babylonian Talmudic yeshiva, founded by Rava , as well as the original seat of the Exilarch....
  .
• Rabbi Abbahu
  Abbahu
  
  Abbahu was a Jewish Talmudist, known as an amora, who lived in the Land of Israel, of the 3rd amoraic generation , sometimes cited as R. Abbahu of Caesarea ....
   (d. early 4th century), disciple of Rabbi Yochanan
  Yochanan bar Nafcha
  
  Rabbi Yochanan was a rabbi in the early era of the Talmud. He was born in Tzippori in the Land of Israel. His father, a blacksmith, died prior to his birth, and his mother died soon after; he was raised by his grandfather in Tzippori....
  . Dean of the Yeshiva in Caesarea.
• Hamnuna
  Hamnuna
  
  Hamnuna is the name of several rabbis in the Talmud.* Hamnuna Sabba . Mid third century of the common era. A pupil of Abba Arika . After Rav, he became the head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia at Sura ....
   — Several rabbis in the Talmud bore this name, the most well-known being a disciple of Shmuel
  Samuel of Nehardea
  
  Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia at Nehardea....
   (fl. late 3rd century).
• Judah III
  Judah III
  
  Judah III held the office of Nasi of the ancient Jewish Sanhedrin between 290 and 320 CE. He is a famous Jewish sage mentioned in the classical works of Judaism's oral law, who lived during the third and beginning of the fourth century CE....
   (d. early 4th century), disciple of Rabbi Johanan bar Nappaha. Son and successor of Gamaliel IV as Nasi, and grandson of Judah II.
• Rabbi Ammi
  Rabbi Ammi
  
  Ammi, Aimi, Immi is the name of several Jewish Talmudists, known as amoraim, who lived in the Land of Israel and Babylonia. In the Babylonian Talmud the first form only is used; in the Jerusalem Talmud all three forms appear, Immi predominating, and sometimes R....
  
• Rabbi Assi
  Rabbi Assi
  
  Assi II was a Jewish Talmudist, known as an amora, who lived in the Land of Israel, of the third generation, 3rd and 4th centuries, one of the two Palestinian scholars known among their contemporary Jewish Talmudical scholars of Babylonian as "the judges of the Land of Israel" and as "the distinguished priests of the Land of Israel," his co...
  
• Hanina ben Pappa
  Hanina ben Pappa
  
  Hanina ben Pappa was a Jewish Talmudist, known as an amora living in the Land of Israel, halakist, and haggadist who flourished in the 3rd and 4th centuries; a younger contemporary of Samuel b....
  
• Rabbah bar Rav Huna
• Rami bar Hama
  Rami bar Hama
  
  Rami bar Hama was a Babylonian Jews amora of the third generation, a pupil of R. ?isda, and a fellow student of Rava , who was somewhat his junior ....
  

Fourth generation (approx. 320–350 CE)

• Abaye
  Abaye
  
  Abaye was a Rabbi of the Jewish Talmud who lived in Babylonia [???], known as an amora [?????] born about the close of the third century; died 339 ....
   (d. 339), disciple of Rabbah
  Rabbah bar Nahmani
  
  Rabbah bar Nachmani was a Jewish Talmudist known as an amora, who lived in Babylonia, known throughout the Talmud simply as Rabbah.Rabbah was born into a priestly family, and studied at both the academies in Sura and Pumbedita....
  , Rav Yosef, and Rav Nachman
  Rav Nachman
  
  Rav Nachman bar Yaakov was a Judaism Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an Amora of the third generation, and pupil of Samuel of Nehardea....
  . Dean of the Yeshiva in Pumbedita.
• Rava
  Rava (amora)
  
  Rava was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora, born in 270, and one of the most often-cited Rabbis in the Talmud. He studied at the yeshiva of Pumbedita: see Talmudic Academies in Babylonia....
   (d. 352), disciple of Rabbah, Rav Yosef, and Rav Nachman, and possibly Rabbi Yochanan. Dean of the Yeshiva at Mahuza.
• Hillel II
  Hillel II
  
  Hillel II, also known simply as Hillel held the office of Nasi of the ancient Jewish Sanhedrin between 320 and 385 CE. He was the son and successor of Judah III....
   (fl. c. 360). Creator of the present-day Hebrew calendar
  Hebrew calendar
  
  The Hebrew calendar or Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar used by Jews, now predominantly for religious purposes. It is used to reckon the Jewish New Year and dates for Jewish holidays, and also to determine appropriate Torah reading of Torah portions, Yahrzeits , and daily Psalm reading, among many ceremonial uses....
  . Son and successor as Nasi of Judah Nesiah, grandson of Gamaliel IV.

Fifth generation (approx. 350–371 CE)

• Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak
  Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak
  
  Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak was an amora who lived in Babylonia. He was a disciple of Abaye and Rava and the dean of the yeshiva at Pumbedita.In his youth, Rav Nachman studied together with Rava, but he sat one row behind him....
   (d. 356), disciple of Abaye
  Abaye
  
  Abaye was a Rabbi of the Jewish Talmud who lived in Babylonia [???], known as an amora [?????] born about the close of the third century; died 339 ....
   and Rava
  Rava (amora)
  
  Rava was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora, born in 270, and one of the most often-cited Rabbis in the Talmud. He studied at the yeshiva of Pumbedita: see Talmudic Academies in Babylonia....
  . Dean of the Yeshiva at Pumbedita.
• Rav Papa
  Rav Papa
  
  Rav Papa was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia. He was an Amora; a student of both Rava and Abaye. He led the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia in Nehardea....
   (d. 371 or 375), disciple of Abaye and Rava. Dean of the Yeshiva at Naresh
  Naresh (city)
  
  Naresh was a city in Babylonia, situated near Sura on a canal. It may be identical with the city of Nahras or Nahar Sar on the Tigris, and is mentioned together with Ma?uza, Safonia, and Pumbedita, although it must not be inferred that these cities were near one another....
  .
• Rav Kahana, teacher of Rav Ashi
• Rav Hama
• Rav Huna berai d'Rav Yehoshua

Sixth generation (approx. 371–427 CE)

• Rav Ashi (d. 427), disciple of Abaye, Rava, and Rav Kahana. Dean of the Yeshiva in Mata Mehasia
  Sura (city)
  
  Sura was a city in the southern part of ancient Babylonia, located west of the Euphrates River. It was well-known for its agriculture produce, which included grapes, wheat, and barley....
  . Primary redactor of the Babylonian Talmud.
• Ravina I
  Ravina I
  
  Ravina I was a Jewish Talmudist and rabbi who began the process of compiling the Talmud with Rav Ashi. He died in 421. The Talmud was ultimately completed by his nephew Ravina II....
   (d. 421), disciple of Abaye and Rava. Colleague of Rav Ashi in the Yeshiva at Mata Mehasia, where he assisted in the redaction of the Babylonian Talmud.

Seventh generation (approx. 425–460 CE)

• Mar bar Rav Ashi.

Eighth generation (approx. 460–500 CE)

• Ravina II
  Ravina II
  
  Ravina II was a Jewish Talmudist and rabbi who, in 475 AD, finished editing the Gemara portion of the Talmud, completing the work of his teacher Rav Ashi....
   (d. 475 or 500), disciple of Ravina I and Rav Ashi. Dean of the Yeshiva at Sura. Completed the redaction of the Babylonian Talmud.

Other

External links

• – University of Calgary