Abba bar Memel

Rabbi Abba bar Memel (or Mamal[1]), or Abba mar Memel,[2] (Hebrew: רבי אבא בר ממל or אבא מר ממל) was an rabbi of the Land of Israel of the second and third generation of amoraim.

Rabbinical eras

He is mentioned often in discussions with the Amora sages of Tiberias Beit Midrash, headed by R. Yochanan bar Nafcha[3] and his students, R. Abbahu, R. Eleazar ben Pedat,[4] and his main scholarly opponent, Rav Zeira.[5] He is also mentioned along with Rabbi Ammi [6] and Rabbi Assi[7] who were considered his masters, probably after the death of R. Yochanan bar Nafcha.

Teachings

In three propositions he limited and rendered practically harmless the application of the Gezerah Shawah, the second of the thirteen hermeneutic rules of R. Ismael, which otherwise might easily have led to arbitrary ritual decisions.[8] His proposed reforms were never carried into practice, no other amora having joined him to form a valid legislative body.[9]

Among his aggadic teachings, the most significant is one on the names of God:[10]

"God spoke to Moses: 'Thou desirest to know My name, I AM THAT I AM[11] That is, I am called according to my revealed activities. When I am judging mankind, I am called Elohim; when I am going out to war against the wicked, I am called Tzevaot; when I am holding judgment in suspense over the sins of men, I am called El Shaddai; when showing mercy to the world, I am called YHWH, because this name de-notes the quality of mercy in God'.[12]"

References
  1. , Jewish Virtual Library
  2. In the full corpus of the Bar Ilan Responsa Project, version 16, this spelling appears only in two places: Shut Mahari ben Lev 2:11; Shut Shevet Sofer, Orach Haim 57.
  3. i.e Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Kiddushin, 62b
  4. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Bezah, 13b
  5. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sukkah, 21b; Tractate Hulin, 129a; Tractate Kiddushin, 9b; etc.
  6. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Nedarim, 21a
  7. Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Hulin, 129a
  8. Yerushalmi Pesachim 6 33a
  9. Yerushalmi Moed Kattan 2 81b
  10. Exodus Rabbah 3
  11. Exodus 3:14
  12. Exodus 34:6

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "ABBA BAR MEMEL". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.

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