Ḥalafta Of Kefar Hananiah, R. Or Abba

Tanna of the second century; junior of R. Meïr, in whose name he transmits the legal maxim: When the condition is expressed before an obligation depending on it, the condition is valid; but when the obligation precedes the condition, the condition is void (see Conditions). From him the Mishnah (Ab. iii. 6) preserves an interesting homily on the number of persons constituting a quorum for the study of the Law. In the treatise Abot, usually incorporated in the Jewish rituals, the name of the author of this mishnah is "R. Ḥalafta b. Dosa of Kefar Hananiah"; in Maḥzor Vitry (ed. Berlin, 1893, p. 508), however, the patronymic does not appear, but there are also some other variants.

Bibliography:

  * Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ii.;
  * Zacuto, Yuḥasin, ed. Filipowski, p. 64.



E. C. S. M.