Rav Chisda
Encyclopedia
Rav Chisda was a Jewish Talmud
ist who lived in Babylonia
, known as an amora
of the third generation (died in 320
of the Seleucidan era at the age of ninety-two ), mentioned frequently in the Talmud
.
family . He studied under Rav
, who was his principal teacher and after the latter's death he attended the lectures of Rav Huna
, a companion of the same age. The pair were called "the Hasidim of Babylon" . Rav Chisda was also among those called Tzadik
im, those who could bring down rain by their prayers . At first he was so poor that he abstained from vegetables because they increased his appetite 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" . At the age of sixteen he married the daughter of Hanan b. Raba and together they had seven or more sons and two daughters. Later, as a brewer
, he became very wealthy . One of his pupils, Raba, became his son-in-law .
's school at Sura
, but his very acuteness indirectly caused a rupture between himself and Rav Huna
. The separation was brought about by a question from Rav Chisda as to the obligations of a disciple toward a master to whom he is indispensable. Rav Huna
saw the point and said, "Chisda, I do not need thee; it is thou that needst me!". Forty years passed before they became reconciled . Rav Chisda nevertheless held Rav Huna
in great esteem, and although he had established a school built at his own expense in Mata Mehasya four years before Rav Huna
's death , he never published any decision during the Rav Huna
's lifetime. Rav Huna
came to recognize Rav Chisda's merit later and recommended his son Rabbah bar Rav Hunah to attend his lectures .
Rav Chisda also presided over the Academy
of Sura for ten years following the death of Rav Yehuda , or following the death of Rav Huna
, according to Abraham ibn Daud . He always preserved great respect for the memory of Rav
, whom he referred to as "our great teacher, may God aid him" . Once, holding up the gifts which are given to the Kohen
, he declared that he would give them to the man who could cite a hitherto unknown Halaka in the name of Rav
.
, some being given on the authority of his pupils. His principal opponent was Rav Sheshet. Besides deducing his halakot in a casuistic way, Rav Chisda was peculiar in that he derived his halakot less from the Pentateuch than from other parts of the Bible.
Rav Chisda was also an authority in aggadah
, and employed special assistants to lecture in that department . Many ethical sentences by him have been preserved , 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" and "He who opposes his master is as though he opposed the Shekinah" . It was said that the Angel of Death, not being able to approach Rav Chisda because he never ceased from studying, cleft the trunk of a cedar-tree. Terrified by the noise, Rav Chisda interrupted his studies, whereupon the angel took his soul .
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ist who lived in Babylonia
Babylonia
Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as...
, known as an amora
Amora
Amoraim , were renowned Jewish scholars who "said" or "told over" the teachings of the Oral law, from about 200 to 500 CE in Babylonia and the Land of Israel. Their legal discussions and debates were eventually codified in the Gemara...
of the third generation (died in 320
320
Year 320 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Constantinus and Constantinus...
of the Seleucidan era at the age of ninety-two ), mentioned frequently in the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
.
Youth
Rav Chisda descended from a priestlyKohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
family . He studied under 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...
, who was his principal teacher and after the latter's death he attended the lectures of Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
, a companion of the same age. The pair were called "the Hasidim of Babylon" . Rav Chisda was also among those called Tzadik
Tzadik
Tzadik/Zadik/Sadiq is a title given to personalities in Jewish tradition considered righteous, such as Biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The root of the word ṣadiq, is ṣ-d-q , which means "justice" or "righteousness", also the root of Tzedakah...
im, those who could bring down rain by their prayers . At first he was so poor that he abstained from vegetables because they increased his appetite 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" . At the age of sixteen he married the daughter of Hanan b. Raba and together they had seven or more sons and two daughters. Later, as a brewer
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
, he became very wealthy . One of his pupils, Raba, became his son-in-law .
In the Talmudic Academy
Rav Chisda was a great casuist , his acute mind greatly enhanced the fame of Rav HunaRav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
's school 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 agricultural produce, which included grapes, wheat, and barley...
, but his very acuteness indirectly caused a rupture between himself and Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
. The separation was brought about by a question from Rav Chisda as to the obligations of a disciple toward a master to whom he is indispensable. Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
saw the point and said, "Chisda, I do not need thee; it is thou that needst me!". Forty years passed before they became reconciled . Rav Chisda nevertheless held Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
in great esteem, and although he had established a school built at his own expense in Mata Mehasya four years before Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
's death , he never published any decision during the Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
's lifetime. Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
came to recognize Rav Chisda's merit later and recommended his son Rabbah bar Rav Hunah to attend his lectures .
Rav Chisda also presided over the Academy
Talmudic Academies in Babylonia
The Talmudic Academies in Babylonia, also known as the Geonic Academies, were the center for Jewish scholarship and the development of Jewish law in Mesopotamia from roughly 589 CE to 1038 CE...
of Sura for ten years following the death of Rav Yehuda , or following the death of Rav Huna
Rav Huna
Rav Huna , a Kohen, was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora of the second generation and head of the Academy of Sura; He was born about 216, died in 296-297 ).-Youth:...
, according to Abraham ibn Daud . He always preserved great respect for the memory of Rav
Rav
Rav is the Hebrew word for rabbi. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi....
, whom he referred to as "our great teacher, may God aid him" . Once, holding up the gifts which are given to the Kohen
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
, he declared that he would give them to the man who could cite a hitherto unknown Halaka in the name of Rav
Rav
Rav is the Hebrew word for rabbi. For a more nuanced discussion see semicha. The term is also frequently used by Orthodox Jews to refer to one's own rabbi....
.
His teachings
Rav Chisda's halakot are frequent in the Babylonian TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, some being given on the authority of his pupils. His principal opponent was Rav Sheshet. Besides deducing his halakot in a casuistic way, Rav Chisda was peculiar in that he derived his halakot less from the Pentateuch than from other parts of the Bible.
Rav Chisda was also an authority in aggadah
Aggadah
Aggadah refers to the homiletic and non-legalistic exegetical texts in the classical rabbinic literature of Judaism, particularly as recorded in the Talmud and Midrash...
, and employed special assistants to lecture in that department . Many ethical sentences by him have been preserved , 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" and "He who opposes his master is as though he opposed the Shekinah" . It was said that the Angel of Death, not being able to approach Rav Chisda because he never ceased from studying, cleft the trunk of a cedar-tree. Terrified by the noise, Rav Chisda interrupted his studies, whereupon the angel took his soul .