Samuel of Nehardea

Samuel of Nehardea or Samuel bar Abba is a Jewish Talmudist who lives in Babylonia, known as an Amora of the first generation; son of Abba bar Abba and head of the Yeshiva at Nehardea.

He is a teacher of halakha, judge, physician, and astronomer.

He was born about 165 at Nehardea, in Babylonia and died there about 257.

As in the case of many other great men, a number of legendary stories are connected with his birth.

In Talmudic texts, Samuel is frequently associated with Abba Arika, with whom he debates on many major issues.

He is the teacher of Rabbi Judah ben Ezekiel.

From the little biographical information gleaned from the Talmud, we know that Samuel was never ordained as a Tanna, that he was very precise with his words (Kidd.

70), and that he had a special affinity for astronomy: one of his best known sayings was that "The paths of heaven are as clear to me as the pathways of Nehardea."

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