Isaac bar Judah
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Rav Isaac bar Rav Judah (Hebrew: רב יצחק בריה דרב יהודה) was a Babylonian rabbi who lived in the 4th century (fourth generation of amoraim).
Biography
[edit]His father and principle teacher was Rav Judah ben Ezekiel, who was probably quite old when Isaac was born.[1] In his childhood Isaac already showed signs of unusual intelligence.[2] Isaac and his father debated many halakhic issues together.[3] His father regarded him highly, and would repeat teachings in his son's name, which was considered unusual, since usually the student would quote the teacher and not the reverse.[4] At times he would comment on his father's work.[5]
Isaac did not marry until a late age, because his father Judah did not know how to find a family with sufficiently good lineage, until Ulla visited and taught Judah a method for estimating lineage.[6] Isaac studied also under Rav Huna,[7] as well as under Rabbah bar Nahmani along with Rav Samuel, the son of Rabbah bar bar Hana, and Aha bar Hana.[8]
After their deaths, he became a student of Rami bar Hama. However, he did not like Rami's reliance on logical argumentation rather than reference to tradition,[9] and so he left Rami's lectures, to study under Rav Sheshet who would answer questions based on previous sources.[10]
Along with his brother, Huna bar Judah,[11] he debated halacha with Abaye and Rava.[12]
His family
[edit]His granddaughter Homa, the daughter of his son Issi, was termed Isha katlanit ("lethal/deadly woman"), since she married three men, all of whom died: Rehaba of Pumbeditha, Rab Isaac, the son of Rabbah bar bar Hana, and Abaye.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ As shown by the fact that he learned Torah from rabbis who lived a generation or two generations later - Rav Sheshet and Rami bar Hama.
- ^ His father considered him perceptive enough to do business at age 6 or 7, in contrast with other rabbis' opinions that this ability only arrives at ages 8, 9, or 10: Gittin 59b
- ^ i.e. Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 91a
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbat 151a
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 80b, 97a
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 71b
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Niddah 17b
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Shevu'ot 36b
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 90a
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Zevachim 96b
- ^ On his brother see: Babylonian Talmud, Pesahim 12a, 40a; Yebamot 88b
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Eruvin 84a
- ^ Babylonian Talmud, Yebamot 64b
External links
[edit]- Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "YIẒḤAḲ BAR JUDAH". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.