ABBA KOHEN BARDELA

ABBA KOHEN BARDELA (second century), tanna. He is not mentioned in the Mishnah but is quoted by Abba Yose b. Ḥanin in the Sifrei (Deut. 2). Resh Lakish cites his views on several principles of the laws of acquisition; one is that within a public domain a person may acquire ownership of chattels in a radius of four cubits around him (BM 10a). One of his many aggadic statements is, "Woe to us for the day of judgment. Woe to us for the day of rebuke. Balaam was a wise man of the Gentiles, but could not withstand the rebuke of his ass (cf. Num. 22:30). Joseph was the youngest of the tribes, but his brothers were unable to bear his rebuke (cf. Gen. 45:3). When God will rebuke each one of us for what he is, how much less will we be able to bear it" (Gen. R. 93. 10). -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Hyman, Toledot, 56; Bacher, Tann. (Abraham Goldberg)