Tanhuma bar Abba
Rabbinical eras |
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Tanhuma bar Abba (
Biography
He was a pupil of
The
With regard to Tanhuma's public activity, the only fact known is that he ordered a fast on account of a drought. Two fasts were held, but no rain came, whereupon Tanhuma ordered a third fast, saying in his sermon: "My children, be charitable to each other, and God will be merciful unto you." On this occasion one man gave money to his divorced wife, who was in need; Tanhuma thereupon lifted his face toward the heavens and prayed: "Lord of the Universe, this hard-hearted man took pity on his wife when he saw that she was in need, and helped her, although not obliged to do so; how much more should You, the Gracious and Merciful, be filled with pity when You see Your beloved children, the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in need." As soon as he had ceased praying, rain came, and the world was relieved of its distress.[8]
Teachings
Tanhuma is not often mentioned as a
As an
Tanhuma often made use of symbolism to illustrate his thought. Some of his aggadic utterances may be quoted: "Just as the spice-box contains all kinds of fragrant spices, so must the wise youth be filled with all kinds of
Tanhuma often held religious disputations with non-Jewish scholars, especially Christians; and he himself tells of one which took place in Antioch.[18] He was asked concerning Genesis 3:5, where the word "Ke-Elohim [yod'ei tov va-ra']" seems to point to a plurality of gods. Tanhuma replied that such a construction was refuted by the immediately preceding words, "yodea' [singular] Elohim." His frequent intercourse with non-Jews led him to formulate the following rule: "When a non-Jew greets you with a blessing, answer him with an 'Amen'".[19]
The
Quotes
- If you have acquired knowledge, what do you lack? but if you lack knowledge, what have you acquired?[20]
References
- ^ Numbers Rabbah 3; Genesis Rabbah 41
- Shabbat10c
- ^ Yerushalmi Pe'ah 15b; Shabbat 11d; Avodah Zarah 43a
- ^ Midrash Tehillim to Psalms 119:2
- Shekalim49d
- A. Neubauer, G. T. p. 23
- Sanhedrin39a
- ^ Genesis Rabbah 33; Leviticus Rabbah 34
- Ta'anit67a
- ^ Hullin 55b
- Berachot 12c; Genesis Rabbah 4:3; Leviticus Rabbah21
- ^ Genesis Rabbah 24
- ^ Leviticus Rabbah 24:5
- ^ Genesis Rabbah 43:3
- ^ Genesis Rabbah 9:2
- Shir haShirim Rabbah5:13
- ^ Esther Rabbah 3:1
- ^ Genesis Rabbah 19:4
- Sukkah54a
- ^ Leviticus Rabbah 1:6). New York. 1987.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wilhelm Bacher; Jacob Zallel Lauterbach (1901–1906). "Tanchuma bar Abba". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. It has the following bibliography:
- Weiss, Dor, iii. 142-144;
- Z. Frankel, Mebo, p. 131a, b;
- S. Buber, Einleitung zum Midrash Tanhuma, pp. 3a, 4a;
- W. Bacher, Ag. Pal. Amor. iii. 465-514.