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Abba ben Joseph bar Ḥama, who is exclusively referred to in the Talmud by the name Rava (רבא), was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Babylonia, known as an amora, born in 270. He is one of the most often-cited Rabbis in the Talmud. He studied at the Talmudical Academy at Pumbedita. There he became famous for his debates with his study-partner Abaye. The debates between Abba ben Joseph and Abaye are considered classic examples of Talmudic dialectical logic. Of their hundreds of recorded disputes, the law is decided according to the opinion of Abba ben Joseph in all but six cases. His methodology greatly influenced not only his students, but the stammaim, as well.[1]
When Rabbah bar Nahmani (not to be confused with Abba ben Joseph), the head of the yeshiva of Pumbedita, retired, the position went to Abaye. At that point, Abba ben Joseph returned to Mahuza, in Babylonia, where he established a yeshiva there. After the death of Abaye, many of his students moved from Pumbedita to Mahuza, to join Abba ben Joseph's Yeshiva, which had become one of the intellectual centers of the Babylonian Jewish Community. Rava died in 350.
Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Raba ben Joseph ben Ḥama". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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