ABBA BAR AḤA

ABBA BAR AḤA (third century), amora. He was born in Ereẓ Israel and emigrated to Babylonia (TJ, Ber. 1:9,3d). Several halakhot are quoted by him in the Jerusalem Talmud in the name of "Rabbi" (Judah ha-Nasi) and in the Babylonian in that of "Rabbenu"; therefore he may have been a pupil of Judah ha-Nasi. In the Jerusalem Talmud (loc. cit.) Abba b. Aḥa is quoted as saying in the name of Rabbi (according to Ber. 49a, cf. Dik. Sof. 258, in the name of Rabbenu): "If one fails to mention 'covenant' (i.e., the phrase 'for Thy covenant which Thou has sealed in our flesh') in the Blessing for the Land or 'the kingdom of the House of David' in the blessing 'who rebuildest Jerusalem' (both in the Grace after Meals), it must be repeated correctly." R. Ilai reports decisions in his name (Ber. 49a, et al.). He is the author of the statement, "The nature of this people (Israel) is incomprehensible. Approached on behalf of the golden calf, they contribute; approached on behalf of the tabernacle, they contribute toward it too" (TJ, Shek. 1.145d). -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hyman, Toledot, 15; Abraham Zacut, Sefer Yuḥasin ha-Shalem (19242), 99–100. (Zvi Kaplan)