Editing Rav Ashi (section)

=== Elevation of Sura ===

While still young, Rav Ashi became the head of the [[Sura Academy]], his great learning being acknowledged by the older teachers. It had been closed since [[Rav Chisda]]'s death (309), but under Rav Ashi it once again became the intellectual center of the [[Babylonian Jews]]. Ashi contributed to its material grandeur also, rebuilding the academy and the [[synagogue]] connected with it in [[Mata Mehasya]],<ref>{{cite book |author-last=Sherira Gaon |author-link=Sherira Gaon |title=The Iggeres of Rav Sherira Gaon |translator=Nosson Dovid Rabinowich | publisher=Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Press - Ahavath Torah Institute Moznaim|date=1988 |location=Jerusalem|page=110 (chapter 11) |language=en|oclc=923562173 |quote="In all those years after R. Pappa, R. Ashi was ''gaon'' in Sura. He came to Mata Mehasya, tore down the Synagogue of Bei Rav, and rebuilt it (as we say in [Chapter] ''HaShutafin''), making a number of fine improvements. He convened [in Mata Mehasya] festivals and fast days that [until then] had been the prerogative only of the exilarch and in Nehardea."}}</ref> sparing no expense and personally superintending their reconstruction.<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]] (''Shabbat'' 11a; ''Baba Bathra'' 3b)</ref> As a direct result of Rav Ashi's renown, the [[Exilarch]] came annually to Sura in the month after [[Rosh Hashana]] to receive the respects of the assembled representatives of the Babylonian academies and congregations. These festivities and other conventions in Sura were so splendid that Rav Ashi expressed his surprise that some of the Gentile residents of Sura were not tempted to accept [[Judaism]].<ref>Berachot 17b</ref><ref name="JE"/>

Sura maintained the prominence conferred on it by Rav Ashi for several centuries, and only during the last two centuries of the [[Gaonic]] period did [[Pumbedita]] again become its rival. Rav Ashi's son Tabyomi (known as [[Mar bar Rav Ashi]]) was a recognized scholar, but only in 455, 28 years after his father's death, did he receive the position that his father had so successfully filled for more than half a century.