Rava (amora)

Raba bar bar Chama Josef ( ben Joseph ben Abba and Raw Chama or Rawa; * 270 or 280 in Mahuza; † 352 ibid ) was one of the most important amora of the fourth generation in Babylonia.

He was a pupil of Rab Nahman bar Jacob, and Joseph ben Hiyya of Rab, the school head in Pumbedita. He taught in Seleucia- Ctesiphon ( the Jews known as Mahuza ) on the Tigris. Under Abaye and Raba, the Talmudic dialectic peaked. The debates of the two is devoted much space in the Babylonian Talmud; halakha has, with few exceptions for Raba and Abaye decided against ( Erubin 15a, Sanhedrin 27a).

When Abaye head of the school in Pumbedita was Raba went back to Mahuza, to his birthplace, where he headed the Academy took over for 14 years, who also joined the students after Abajes death.

Raba was known for his ingenuity and his strictly logical reasoning; as landowners ( Baba Mezia 73a) and wine merchants ( Berachot 56a) Raba had good relations with the exilarch as well - was suspicious of others - connections to the Persian king Shapur II ( Chagiga 5b) and to his mother.