ZE'IRI

ZE'IRI (third century), Babylonian amora, also known as Ze'iri b. Hinena (Hinna) in the Jerusalem Talmud. He was born in Babylon but went to Ereẓ Israel in his youth, where he studied under *Hanina b. Ḥama. He later taught in Ḥanina's name that the Messiah would not appear until all the "arrogant ones" had disappeared (Sanh. 98a). His main teacher, however, was *Johanan, whose teachings he later transmitted (e.g., Av. Zar. 53a). Johanan even offered Ze'iri his daughter's hand in marriage. When he declined on the ground that he preferred to marry a woman of Babylonian birth rather than of Palestinian, Johanan retorted, "Our learning is suitable, but our daughters are not?" (Kid. 71b). While in Palestine, Ze'iri was captured by highwaymen and R. Ammi and R. Samuel attempted to attain his release. While they were negotiating with the leader of the brigands, news arrived of neighboring bloody gang warfare, and in the confusion Ze'iri escaped (tj, Ter. 8:10, 46b; Penei Moshe (ad. loc.)). Ze'iri was highly regarded as an expounder of the beraitot, and Rava remarked that "every baraita not explained by Ze'iri was not truly explained" (Zev. 43b). He eventually returned to Babylon where he taught the Palestinian traditions in the academy of Nehardea (Ḥul. 56a; Ber. 22a). His closest pupil was Ḥiyya b. Ashi (Shab. 109a; Yoma 77b). Others who transmitted his teachings were R. Ḥisda (Ber. 43a), Rabbah (Ned. 46a), R. Joseph (Ned. 46b), Rav Judah (Av. Zar. 61b), R. Naḥman (Av. Zar. 61b), and R. Giddal (Men. 21a).

bibliography:

Hyman, Toledot, s.v.; Ḥ. Albeck, Mavo la-Talmudim (1969), 175–6.