Abba bar Memel
| Rabbinical eras |
|---|
RabbiAbba bar Memel(orMamal[1]), orAbba mar Memel,[2](Hebrew:רבי אבא בר ממלorאבא מר ממל) was arabbiof theLand of Israelof the second and third generation ofamoraim.
He is mentioned often in discussions with the Amora sages ofTiberiasBeit Midrash,headed by R.Yochanan bar Nafcha[3]and his students, R.Abbahu,R.Eleazar ben Pedat,[4]and his main scholarly opponent,Rav Zeira.[5]He is also mentioned along withRabbi Ammi[6]andRabbi Assi[7]who were considered his masters, probably after the death of R. Yochanan bar Nafcha.
Teachings[edit]
In three propositions he limited and rendered practically harmless the application of the Gezerah Shawah, the second of the thirteen hermeneutic rules of R. Ismael, which otherwise might easily have led to arbitrary ritual decisions.[8]His proposed reforms were never carried into practice, no other amora having joined him to form a valid legislative body.[9]
Among his aggadic teachings, the most significant is one on the names of God:[10]
- "God spoke to Moses: 'Thou desirest to know My name, I AM THAT I AM[11]That is, I am called according to my revealed activities. When I am judging mankind, I am called Elohim; when I am going out to war against the wicked, I am called Tzevaot; when I am holding judgment in suspense over the sins of men, I am called El Shaddai; when showing mercy to the world, I am called YHWH, because this name de-notes the quality of mercy in God'.[12]"
References[edit]
- ^[1],Jewish Virtual Library
- ^In the full corpus of theBar Ilan Responsa Project,version 16, this spelling appears only in two places: Shut Mahari ben Lev 2:11; Shut Shevet Sofer, Orach Haim 57.
- ^i.eBabylonian Talmud,Tractate Kiddushin, 62b
- ^Babylonian Talmud,Tractate Bezah, 13b
- ^Babylonian Talmud,TractateSukkah,21b; Tractate Hulin, 129a; Tractate Kiddushin, 9b; etc.
- ^Babylonian Talmud,Tractate Nedarim, 21a
- ^Babylonian Talmud,Tractate Hulin, 129a
- ^Yerushalmi Pesachim 6 33a
- ^Yerushalmi Moed Kattan 2 81b
- ^Exodus Rabbah3
- ^Exodus 3:14
- ^Exodus 34:6
External links[edit]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906)."ABBA BAR MEMEL".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
 | This biographical article about an Israeli rabbi is astub.You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |