Abba Bar Aḥa

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ABBA BAR AḤA

ABBA BAR AḤA (third century), amora. He was born in Ereẓ Israel and emigrated to Babylonia (tj, Ber. 1:9,3d). Several halakhot are quoted by him in the Jerusalem Talmud in the name of "Rabbi" (Judah ha-Nasi) and in the Babylonian in that of "Rabbenu"; therefore he may have been a pupil of Judah ha-Nasi. In the Jerusalem Talmud (loc. cit.) Abba b. Aḥa is quoted as saying in the name of Rabbi (according to Ber. 49a, cf. Dik. Sof. 258, in the name of Rabbenu): "If one fails to mention 'covenant' [i.e., the phrase 'for Thy covenant which Thou has sealed in our flesh'] in the Blessing for the Land or 'the kingdom of the House of David' in the blessing 'who rebuildest Jerusalem' [both in the Grace after Meals], it must be repeated correctly." R. Ilai reports decisions in his name (Ber. 49a, et al.). He is the author of the statement, "The nature of this people [Israel] is incomprehensible. Approached on behalf of the golden calf, they contribute; approached on behalf of the tabernacle, they contribute toward it too" (tj, Shek. 1.145d).

bibliography:

Hyman, Toledot, 15; Abraham Zacut, Sefer Yuḥasin ha-Shalem (19242), 99–100.

[Zvi Kaplan]