Elisha ben Abuyah

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Elisha ben Abuyah (early 2nd cent.). Jewish tanna who subsequently renounced Judaism. Although he was the teacher of R. Meir who quoted his sayings (e.g. Avot 4. 20), the reason for his apostasy was not known. He is referred to in the Talmud (even by R. Meir when quoting him) as aḥer, ‘another’, in order to avoid mentioning his name.