Sheshet
Rabbinical eras |
---|
Rav Sheshet (Hebrew: רב ששת) was a amora of the third generation of the Talmudic academies in Babylonia (then Asoristan, now Lower Mesopotamia, Iraq). His name is sometimes read Shishat or Bar Shishat.
Biography
He was a colleague of Rav Nachman, with whom he had frequent arguments concerning questions of halakha. His teacher's name is not definitely known, but Rav Sheshet was an auditor at Rav Huna's lectures.[1] It is certain that he was not a pupil of Abba Arikha (Rav), since certain sayings of his displeased him, he criticized them with a disrespect which he would not have shown toward his own teacher, saying: "he must have spoken thus when he was asleep".[2]
Sheshet lived first at
His learning
Although he was blind, he was compensated by a very retentive memory, for he knew by heart the entire body of
Rav Ḥisda, when he met Sheshet, used to tremble at the wealth of baraitot and maxims which Sheshet quoted.[10] Sheshet also transmitted many sayings of the older tannaim, especially of Eleazar ben Azariah.[11] In his teaching he always took tradition as his basis, and for every question laid before him for decision he sought a mishnah or baraita from which he might deduce the solution of the problem, his extensive knowledge of these branches of literature always enabling him to find the passage he required.[12] His usual answer to a question was: "We have learned it in the Mishnah or in a baraita".[13] When he had presented some sentence to the attention of his pupils, he used to ask immediately, "Whence have I this?" and would then add a mishnah or a baraita from which he had derived the decision in question.[14]
In addition to his learning and his knowledge of tradition, Sheshet possessed much acuteness, and knew how to deduce conclusions from the teachings of tradition.[15] Thus, in connection with his application of Ecclesiastes 7:11, Rami bar Hama said of him: "It is good when one possesses a keen understanding in addition to the inheritance of tradition".[16] However, he was less subtle than his colleague Rav Ḥisda,[17] and he appears to have been averse in general to the casuistry in vogue in the academy of Pumbedita. When he heard any one make a quibbling objection he used to observe sarcastically: "Are you not from Pumbedita, where they draw an elephant through the eye of a needle?".[18] Sheshet was on friendly terms with Rav Chisda, and the pair respected each other highly,[19] traveled in company,[20] and were together at the exilarch's.[21]
His aggadah
Sheshet devoted much time to
Sheshet, who (as stated above) was blind, once mingled with a crowd waiting to see the entry of the king. A
References
- ^ Yevamot 64b; Ketuvot 69a
- ^ Yevamot 24b and parallels; compare also Niddah 60a
- ^ Moed 29a
- ^ Nedarim 78a,b; Bava Batra 121a
- ^ Letter of Sherira ben Hanina, in Neubauer, M. J. C. i. 29
- ^ Pesachim 108a
- ^ Menachot 95b
- ^ Shevu'ot 41b
- ^ Sanhedrin 86a; Horayot 9a
- ^ Eruvin 67a
- ^ Makkot 23a; Pesachim 118a
- ^ Zevachim 96b
- ^ Bava Metzia 90a; Yoma 48b
- ^ Ketuvot 68a; compare Yevamot 35a, 58a
- ^ Menachot 95b, according to Rashi's explanation
- ^ Bekhorot 52b and Rashi ad loc.
- ^ Eruvin 67a
- ^ Bava Metzia 38b
- ^ Berachot 47b; Moed 28b
- ^ Berachot 30a
- ^ Gittin 67b-68a
- Pesachim68b
- Sukkah 52b, and Rashiad loc.
- Sanhedrin92a
- Shabbat63a
- Sanhedrin105a
- ^ Compare Bacher Ag. Bab. Amor. p. 78, note 12
- Berachot58a
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Sheshet". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. It has the following bibliography:
- Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ii. 379–381;
- Weiss, Dor, iii. 181–182;
- Grätz, Gesch.iv. 299–300;
- Bacher, Ag. Bab. Amor. pp. 76–79.