Zeira

For the town of ancient Macedonia, see Zeira (Macedonia).

Zeira

רבי זירא

Personal
Born|

Zeira

Died|

Land of Israel

Religion| Judaism
Era| Third generation of amoraim
Rabbinical eras

* Chazal
* Zugot
* Tannaim
* Amoraim
* Savoraim
* Geonim
* Rishonim
* Acharonim

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Rabbi Zeira (Hebrew: רבי זירא), known before his semicha as Rav Zeira (Hebrew: רב זירא) and known in the Jerusalem Talmud as Rabbi Ze'era (Hebrew: רבי זעירא), was a Jewish Talmudist, of the third generation of amoraim, who lived in the Land of Israel.

## Biography

[edit]

He was born in Babylonia, where he spent his early youth. He was a pupil of Ḥisda,[1] of Huna,[1] and of Judah b. Ezekiel in Pumbedita.

He associated also with other prominent teachers of the Babylonian school, including Rav Nachman,[2] Hamnuna,[3] and Sheshet, who called him a great man.[4] His love for the Holy Land led him to decide upon leaving his native country and emigrating to Israel. This resolve, however, he kept secret from his teacher Judah, who disapproved of any emigration from Babylonia. Before leaving, he spied upon Judah while the latter was bathing, and the words which he then overheard he took with him as a valuable and instructive memento.[5]

A favorable dream, in which he was told that his sins had been forgiven, encouraged him to undertake the journey to the Holy Land.[6] and before starting he spent a hundred days in fasting, in order to forget the dialectic method of instruction of the Babylonian schools, that this might not handicap him in the Land of Israel.[7] His journey took him through Akrokonia, where he met Hiyya bar Ashi,[8] and through Sura.[8] When he reached the River Jordan he could not control his impatience, but passed through the water without removing his clothes. When jeered at by an unbeliever who stood by, he answered, "Why should not I be impatient when I pursue a blessing which was denied even to Moses and Aaron?".[9]

### Arrival in the Land of Israel

[edit]

Zeira's arrival in the Land of Israel and his first experiences there have been recorded in various anecdotes. He was small of stature and of dark complexion, for which reason Assi called him "Black Pot",[8] according to an expression current in Babylonia;[10] this name possibly also contained an allusion to his sputtering manner of speech. Perhaps with reference to a malformation of his legs, he was called "the little one with burned legs," or "the dark, burned one with the stubby legs".[11] But a different explanation of this is given in Bava Metzia 85a, where it is said that he fasted in order to merit protection from the fires of Gehenna and that he then tested himself every thirty days by sitting in the fire without coming to harm, until one day the sages distracted him (cast an eye upon him) and his legs were burned. Thus, these nicknames throw light upon Zeira's ascetic piety.[7]

In the Land of Israel he associated with all the prominent scholars. Eleazar b. Pedat was still living at the time,[12] and from him Zeira received valuable instruction.[13] His most intimate friends were Rabbi Assi and Hiyya bar Abba. In his interaction with Assi he was generally the one who asked questions, and on one occasion Assi made known his approval of one of Zeira's questions by saying: "Right you are, Babylonian; you have understood it correctly".[14] Zeira especially acknowledged the authority of Ammi, the principal of the school at Tiberias, and it is related that he asked Ammi to decide questions pertaining to religious law that had been addressed to himself.[15]

Zeira was highly esteemed by Abbahu, the rector at Caesarea, of whom he considered himself a pupil. He was ordained rabbi, a distinction usually denied to members of the Babylonian school, and though in the beginning he refused this honor,[16] he later accepted it on learning of the atoning powers connected with the dignity.[17] Because of the difficult route taken by Zeira to attain the rabbinate, when finally ordained, his fellow jurists humorously called out before him: "Even though she painted not her eyes with antimony, neither darkened her cheeks with rouge, nor braided her hair, yet is she still a damsel of exceptional beauty!", lines traditionally cited at weddings.[18] Upon receiving semicha, his title changed from Rav to Rabbi.

### Social condition and family life

[edit]

With regard to Zeira's private vocation, the only facts known are that he once traded in linen, and that he asked Abbahu how far he might go in improving the outward appearance of his goods without rendering himself liable in the slightest degree to a charge of fraud.[19] Information regarding his family relations is also very scanty; it is asserted that he became an orphan at an early age,[20] and that his wedding was celebrated during Sukkot,[21] and he had one son, Ahabah or Ahava, who has become well known through various aggadic maxims.[22] He was known for his longevity.

On account of his lofty morals and piety Zeira was honored with the name "the pious Babylonian." Among his neighbors were several people known for their wickedness, but Zeira treated them with kindness in order to lead them to moral reformation. When he died, these people said, "Until now Zeira has prayed for us, but who will pray for us now?" This reflection so moved their hearts that they really were led to repent.[23] That Zeira enjoyed the respect of his contemporaries is evidenced by the comment upon his death written by an elegist: "Babylonia gave him birth; Israel had the pleasure of rearing him; 'Woe is me,' says Tiberias, for she has lost her precious jewel".[24]

## Teachings

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Zeira occupies a prominent place in both halakhah and aggadah. In halacha, he is especially distinguished for the correctness and knowledge with which he transmits older teachings.

His aggadic sayings include the following:

* He who has never sinned is worthy of reward only if he has withstood temptation to do so.[25]
* One should never promise a child anything which one does not intend to give it, because this would accustom the child to untruthfulness.[26]

## See also

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* Rabbi Zeira's stringency

## References

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1. ^ a b Berachot 49a
2. ^ Talmud Yerushalmi Berachot 8c
3. ^ Zevachim 105b; Berachot 24b
4. ^ "gabra rabba"; Eruvin 66a
5. ^ Shabbat 41a; Ketubot 110b
6. ^ Berachot 57a
7. ^ a b Bava Metzia 85a
8. ^ a b c Avodah Zarah 16b
9. ^ Yerushalmi Shevuot 35c
10. ^ Compare Megillah 14b; Pesachim 88a; Berachot 50a
11. ^ Compare Bacher, Ag. Pal. Amor. 3:7, note 2
12. ^ Niddah 48
13. ^ Yerushalmi Terumot 47d
14. ^ Yerushalmi Shabbat 7c
15. ^ Yerushalmi Demai 25b; Yerushalmi Shabbat 8a; Yerushalmi Yevamot 72d
16. ^ Yerushalmi Bikkurim 65c
17. ^ Sanhedrin 14a
18. ^ Ketuvot 17a
19. ^ Yerushalmi Bava Metzia 9d
20. ^ Yerushalmi Pe'ah 15c
21. ^ Sukkah 25b
22. ^ Compare Bacher, l.c. 3:651-659
23. ^ Sanhedrin 37a
24. ^ Moed Katan 25b
25. ^ Yerushalmi Kiddushin 61d
26. ^ Sukkah 46b

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

* Bacher, Ag. Pal. Amor. iii. 1-34;
* Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ii. 117–120.

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Amoraim

Amoraim of Eretz Israel

First Generation (until 250 CE):|

* Gamaliel III
* R. Hiyya
* Rabbi Yannai
* Hoshaiah Rabbah
* Epes the Southerner
* Joshua ben Levi
* Hanina bar Hama
* Levi ben Sisi
* Bar Kappara
* Jeremiah (I)
* Simeon ben Jehozadak
* Simeon ben Judah ha-Nasi

Second Generation (until 280 CE):|

* Judah II (Nesi'ah I)
* Johanan bar Nappaha
* Shimon ben Lakish
* Eleazar ben Pedat
* Isaac Nappaha
* Jose bar Hanina
* Rav Kahana II
* Jacob bar Idi
* Hezekiah
* Judah b. Hiyya
* Abba of Jaffa
* Hama bar Hanina
* Shimon bar Abba
* Simlai
* Hillel, son of Gamaliel III
* Zeiri

Third Generation (until 310 CE):|

* Gamaliel IV
* Rabbi Ammi
* Rabbi Assi
* Abbahu
* Ulla
* Rabbi Yitzchak
* Hama bar Ukva
* Zeira
* Helbo
* Samuel ben Nahman
* Abin I
* Hiyya bar Abba
* Rabbah bar bar Hana
* Levi II
* Rabbi Ilai II
* Abba bar Kahana
* Rav Avira
* Hanina bar Papi
* Hanina ben Pappa
* Jose of Yokereth
* Jeremiah (II)
* Hoshaiah II
* Hanina
* Abba bar Memel
* Tachlifa of the West
* Avdimi of Haifa
* Luliani ben Tabrin
* Abba of Acre
* Shimon ben Pazi
* Me'asha
* Shila of Kefar Tamarta
* Anani ben Sason
* Alexandri
* Kahana bar Tahlifa
* Ḥiyya bar Ami
* Abin Naggara

Fourth Generation (until 340 CE):|

* Judah III (Nesi'ah II)
* Jeremiah (III)
* Rabbi Aha
* Rabbi Berekhiah
* Jose bar Zevida
* Rabbi Jonah
* Rabbi Hilkiah
* Zerika
* Isaac ben Eliashiv
* Rabbi Aibu
* Hasa of Eshtemoa
* Abba bar Hiyya bar Abba
* Rabin
* Abba bar Zemina
* Pedat ben Eleazar
* Abba bar Pappai
* Acha bar Hanina

Fifth Generation (until 380 CE):|

* Hillel II
* Gamaliel V
* Jose ben Abin
* Rabbi Mana II

Sixth Generation (until 410 CE):|

* Judah IV (Nesi'ah III)
* Tanhuma bar Abba
* Hanina of Sepphoris
* Samuel b. Jose b. Boon

Amoraim of Babylon

First Generation (until 250 CE):|

* Abba Arikha (Rav)
* Samuel of Nehardea
* Mar Ukva
* Karna
* Rav Shela
* Rav Assi
* Abba bar Abba

Second Generation (until 280 CE):|

* Rav Huna
* Judah bar Ezekiel
* Hamnuna II
* Hamnuna Saba
* Rabbah bar Abuha
* Jeremiah bar Abba
* Rav Kahana II
* Rav Berona
* Hiyya bar Joseph
* Rav Giddel
* Hiyya bar Ashi
* Raba Bar Jeremiah (Abba)
* Adda bar Ahavah
* Anan

Third Generation (until 310 CE):|

* Rabbah bar Nahmani (Rabbah)
* Rav Nachman
* Sheshet
* Rav Chisda
* Hamnuna III
* Rav Yosef bar Hiyya
* Rabbah bar Rav Huna
* Joseph bar Hama
* Ammi b. Abba
* Rav Shmuel bar Yehudah
* Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak

Fourth Generation (until 340 CE):|

* Abaye
* Rava
* Rami bar Hama
* Aha bar Jacob
* Rav Safra
* Rav Kahana III
* Idi b. Abin Naggara
* Hiyya b. Abin Naggara
* Mar son of Ravina
* Rav Shizbi
* Isaac b. Judah
* Rabbah b. Shela
* Mari bar Rachel
* Acha Bar Yosef

Fifth Generation (until 380 CE):|

* Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak
* Rav Papa
* Rav Papi
* Huna ben Joshua
* Rav Zevid
* Amemar
* Mar Zutra
* Rav Mesharshiya
* Hanina of Sura
* Bevai bar Abaye

Sixth Generation (until 430 CE):|

* Rav Ashi
* Ravina I
* Maremar
* Rami b. Abba
* Huna bar Nathan
* Rav Kahana IV
* Sama bar Raqta

Seventh Generation (until 465 CE):|

* Rav Yemar
* Mar bar Rav Ashi
* Rafram II
* Aha b. Rava
* Judah b. Meremar

Eighth Generation (until 500 CE):|

* Rabbah Tosafa'ah
* Ravina II
* Rabbah Jose
* Rav Rahumi III
* Samuel b. Abbahu

Authority control databases

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* Israel

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