Amora

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Rabbinical Eras
This article is about rabbis of the Talmudic era. For the comic book character, see Enchantress (Marvel Comics). For the French mustard, see Amora (mustard). For the London-based sex museum, see London amora. For the Portuguese parish, see Amora (Seixal).
For other uses, see Amore.

Amora (Aramaic: אמורא; plural אמוראים, Amora'im; "those who say" or "those who tell over"), were renowned Jewish scholars who "said" or "told over" the teachings of the Oral law, from about 200 to 500 CE in Babylonia and the Land of Israel. Their legal discussions and debates were eventually codified in the Gemara. The Amoraim followed the Tannaim in the sequence of ancient Jewish scholars. Tannaim were direct transmitters of uncodified oral tradition; the Amoraim expounded upon and clarified the oral law after its initial codification.

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[edit] The Amoraic Era

The first Babylonian Amoraim were Abba Arika, respectfully referred to as Rav, and his contemporary and frequent debate partner, Samuel of Nehardea. Among the earliest Amoraim in Israel were Johanan bar Nappaha and Simeon ben Lakish. Traditionally, the Amoraic period is reckoned as seven or eight generations (depending on where one begins and ends). The last Amoraim are generally considered to be Ravina I and Rav Ashi, and Ravina II, nephew of Ravina I, who codified the Babylonian Talmud around 500 CE.

In the Talmud itself, the singular amora generally refers to a lecturer's assistant: the lecturer would state his points briefly, and the amora would then repeat them aloud for the public's benefit, adding translation and clarification where needed.

[edit] Prominent Amoraim

The following is an abbreviated listing of the most prominent of the (hundreds of) amoraim mentioned in the Talmud. More complete listings may be provided by some of the external links below. See also List of rabbis.

[edit] First generation (approx. 230–250 CE)

[edit] Second generation (approx. 250–290 CE)

[edit] Third generation (approx. 290–320 CE)

[edit] Fourth generation (approx. 320–350 CE)

[edit] Fifth generation (approx. 350–371 CE)

[edit] Sixth generation (approx. 371–427 CE)

[edit] Seventh generation (approx. 425–460 CE)

  • name
  • name

[edit] Eighth generation (approx. 460–500 CE)


[edit] Other

The "Stammaim" is a term that has been coined by some modern scholars for the rabbis who submitted anonymous comments on the Talmud, some of whom contributed during the period of the Amoraim, but mostly made their contributions after the amoraic period. [1]

[edit] External links