Helbo

Rabbi Helbo(רבי חלבו) was anamorawho flourished about the end of the 3rd century, and who is frequently mentioned in bothTalmuds.

It seems that Helbo lived at first inBabylonia,where he studied underRav Huna,the head of the Academy ofSura,and that, like the other Babylonian amoraim, he was called "Rav".Later he settled in theLand of Israel,where he was ordained rabbi.

Teachings

He is mentioned as having spoken in the names ofAvdimi of HaifaandHama bar Ukva.In Palestine he consulted onhalakhicmatters R.Isaac Nappahaand R.Shmuel bar Nahmani.

Helbo handed down manyaggadicsayings of Shmuel bar Nahmani. He is mentioned in the Talmud as a teacher of ethics, his sayings being delivered in the name ofRav Huna.Among them may be quoted:

• "He who goes out of the synagogue must not take long steps"
• "One should pay great attention to the Minhah prayer"
• "He who enjoys the banquet of a bridegroom without gladdening the latter commits a five-fold sin"
• "He who sees a torn scroll of the Pentateuch must rend his garment in two places"

Helbo also said, in the name ofUlla,that one who sees the ruined cities ofJudahmust reciteIsaiah 64:9–10InGenesis Rabbah,in the name ofR. Eleazar,Helbo is mentioned as a traditionist withR. BerechiahandR. Ammi.

Rabbi Helbo held a discouraging view ofconverts to Judaism:"Converts are more difficult for Israel than a sore."

Other rabbis named Helbo

A Helbo b. Hilfa b. Samkai is also mentioned,who may be identical with the Helbo in this article. There is also reference to a R. Helbo b. Hanan.

References

This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Ḥelbo".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.It has the following bibliography:

• Abraham Zacuto,Yuhasin, ed. Filipowski;
• Jehiel Heilprin,Seder ha-Dorot, ii.;
• W. Bacher,Ag. Pal. Amor. iii. 54-63.