Editing Abba Arikha (section)

==Biography==
His surname, '''Arikha''' (English: '''''the Tall'''''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chullin 137b:13 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Chullin.137b.13 |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref> he owed to his height, which exceeded that of his contemporaries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Niddah 24b:21 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Niddah.24b.21 |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref><ref name="JewishEncyclopedia">{{Harv|Singer|1901–1906|ignore-err=yes}}</ref> Others, reading '''Arekha''', consider it an honorary title, like "Lecturer".<ref>Weiss, ''Dor,'' 3:147; Jastrow, ''Dictionary'' under the word</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/> In the traditional literature, he is referred to almost exclusively as '''Rav''', "the Master" (both by contemporaries and latter generations), just as his teacher, [[Judah ha-Nasi]], was known simply as ''Rabbi''. He is called Rabbi Abba only in the ''[[tannaitic]]'' literature,<ref>For instance, [[Tosefta]] ''Beitzah '' 1:7</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/> wherein a number of his sayings are preserved. He occupies a middle position between the ''Tannaim'' and the ''Amoraim'' and is accorded the right—rarely conceded to one who is only an ''amora''—of disputing the opinion of a ''tanna''.<ref>''Bava Batra'' 42a and elsewhere</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/>

Rav was a descendant of a distinguished Babylonian family that claimed to trace its origin to [[Shimei]], brother of [[King David]].<ref>''Sanhedrin'' 5a; ''Ketubot'' 62b</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/> His father, Aibo, was a brother of [[Hiyya the Great]] who lived in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], and was a highly esteemed scholar in the collegiate circle of the patriarch Judah ha-Nasi. From his associations in his uncle's house and later as his uncle's disciple and as a member of the academy at [[Sepphoris]], Rav acquired such knowledge of the tradition to make him its foremost exponent in Babylonia. While Judah ha-Nasi was still living, Rav, having been [[Semikhah|ordained]] as a teacher with certain restrictions,<ref>''Sanhedrin'' 5a</ref> returned to Asoristan, referred to as "Babylonia" in Jewish writings, where he at once began a career that was destined to mark an epoch in the development of Babylonian Judaism.<ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/>

In the annals of the Babylonian schools, the year of his arrival is recorded as the starting point in the chronology of the Talmudic age. It was the 530th year of the [[Seleucid era]] and the 219th year of the [[Common Era]]. For the scene of his activity, Rav first chose [[Nehardea]], where the [[exilarch]] appointed him ''[[agoranomos]]'' (market-master), and [[Rav Shela]] made him lecturer (''amora'') of his college.<ref>''[[Jerusalem Talmud]] Bava Batra'' 5:15a; ''Yoma'' 20b</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/> Then he moved to [[Sura (city)|Sura]], on the [[Euphrates]], where he established a school of his own, which soon became the intellectual center of the Babylonian Jews. As a renowned teacher of the [[Halakha|Law]] and with hosts of disciples from all sections of the Jewish world, Rav lived and worked in Sura until his death. [[Samuel of Nehardea]], another disciple of Judah ha-Nasi, at the same time brought to the academy at Nehardea a high degree of prosperity; in fact, it was at the school of Rav that Jewish learning in Babylonia found its permanent home and center. Rav's activity made Babylonia independent of Palestine and gave it that predominant position it was destined to occupy for several centuries.<ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/>

Little is known of Rav's personal life. That he was rich seems probable, for he appears to have occupied himself for a time with commerce and afterward with agriculture.<ref>''Hullin'' 105a</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/> He is referred to as the son of noblemen,<ref>Shabbat 29a</ref> but it is not clear if this is an affectionate term or a true description of his status. [[Rashi]] tells us that he is described as the son of great men. He was highly respected by the [[Gentile]]s as well as by the Jews of Babylonia, as shown by the friendship that existed between him and the last [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]], [[Artabanus IV of Parthia|Artabanus IV]].<ref>''Avodah Zarah'' 10b</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/> He was deeply affected by the death of Artaban in 226 and the downfall of the Parthian rulers and does not appear to have sought the friendship of [[Ardashir I]], founder of the [[Sasanian Empire]], although Samuel of Nehardea probably did so.<ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/>

Rav became closely related to the exilarch's family through the marriage of one of his daughters. Her sons, [[Mar 'Ukban III (exilarch)|Mar Ukban]] and Nehemiah, were considered types of the highest aristocracy. Rav had many sons, several of whom are mentioned in the Talmud, the most distinguished being the eldest, Chiyya. Chiyya did not, however, succeed his father as head of the academy: this post fell to Rav's disciple [[Rav Huna]]. Two of his grandsons occupied the office of [[exilarch]] in succession.<ref>''Hullin'' 92a</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/>

Rav died at an advanced age, deeply mourned by numerous disciples and the entire Babylonian Jewry, which he had raised from comparative insignificance to the leading position in Judaism.<ref>''Shabbat'' 110a, ''Mo'ed Katan'' 24a</ref><ref name=JewishEncyclopedia/>

According to some opinions,<ref>Maimonides, as quoted by ''Pesach Einayim'' to ''Berakhoth'' 16b, where Rav's post-''Shemoneh Esrei'' prayer is quoted. Maybe there are other sources as well.</ref> Rav lived for 300 years. ''Pesach Einayim'' comments that Rav's prayer, as told in the Talmud, merited him long life.