Rav Adda bar Ahava [the First]

First generation of Amoraim and a great disciple of Rav, he would transmit teachings in the name of his master, Rav. He also studied under Shmuel and transmitted teachings in the name of Rabbi Yochanan. A great pietist and accustomed to miracles, his colleagues: Rav Hisda, Rav Kahana, Rav Nahman, received traditions from him in the name of Rav. His place was in Pumbedita, and he taught Torah together with his son-in-law, Rav Hana [Yevamot 100b]. [And the third, a disciple of Rav Pappa] – many transmitted traditions in his name. [There is a second Rav Adda bar Ahava, a distinguished disciple of Rava.] On the day Rabbi died, he prophesied: There is a city in Babylonia called “Akra d'Agma,” and today Rav Adda bar Ahava sits in the bosom of Abraham our father, meaning: Today Rav Adda bar Ahava was circumcised and entered into the covenant of Abraham our father. Rabbi Adda bar Ahava lived a long life, from the death of Rabbi until the days of Rav Nahman bar Yitzchak, approximately one hundred and forty years. [Kiddushin 72b] Rav and Shmuel, disciples of Rabbi, went down to Babylonia in the year 4979 (c. 219 CE), at the end of Rabbi's life, and taught Torah even during Rabbi's lifetime.

His Praises

In the city of Nehardea, there was an alley with a dilapidated ceiling. Fearing danger, Rav and Shmuel would not pass beneath it, even though the ceiling stood for thirteen years without collapsing. One day, Rav and Shmuel passed by the place, and Rav Adda bar Ahava happened to be there as well. Shmuel said to Rav, “Let us bypass the dangerous ceiling and not walk beneath it!” Rav said to Shmuel, “Today we do not need to bypass it, because Rav Adda bar Ahava is walking beside us, and his merits are abundant, so we need not fear the ceiling falling.” Indeed, Rav and Shmuel wished to publicize the praise of Rav Adda bar Ahava, and therefore passed with him there. They also wanted to teach the people the powerful efficacy of good deeds in protecting from danger.

Accustomed to Miracles

Rav Huna had barrels of wine stored in a dilapidated house. Rav Huna wanted to remove them before the house collapsed on them, but greatly feared the danger of taking them out. Rav Huna cleverly called Rav Adda bar Ahava to come to that house. Rav Huna delayed Rav Adda bar Ahava with Torah study until his household finished removing the wine barrels from the dilapidated house. Everyone exited the house, and as soon as Rav Adda bar Ahava left the house, it collapsed! Rav Adda bar Ahava realized that Rav Huna had done all this to evacuate the wine barrels and was upset about it, because he held like Rabbi Yannai, who said: A person should never stand in a place of danger and say, “I am not afraid, and surely a miracle will be performed for me!” Lest no miracle be performed for him and he suffer harm. And even if we say that a miracle will be performed for him, nonetheless, it will detract from the merits of the commandments and good deeds he has performed. [Rav Huna held that if a person stands innocently and is unaware of the danger, or if he stands and engages in Torah study, his merits are not diminished. Rav Adda bar Ahava held that in any case his merits are diminished, therefore he was upset. (Ben Yehoyada)] Rav Hanan said: From where do we learn this! From our father Jacob, who said: “I am unworthy of all the kindnesses and all the truth” [Genesis 32:11], even though who among us is greater in good deeds than our father Jacob, yet he feared that by the miracles performed for him, his merits might be diminished.

His Conduct and Merits

Rav Adda bar Ahava's disciples asked him: “Our Master, by what merits have you lived long?” And he told them:

1. I never became angry in my household, meaning: even within my home, privately, where no one sees me, I did not become angry or resentful.
2. And I did not walk in front of one who was greater than me in wisdom, meaning: when I walked with sages greater than me, I did not precede them, and this demonstrates the trait of humility.
3. And I did not contemplate words of Torah in filthy places. Meaning: he was careful not to pass through such places so as not to walk four cubits without words of Torah.
4. And I did not walk four cubits without contemplating Torah and without tefillin on my arm and head.
5. And I did not sleep in the study hall, neither a deep sleep nor a nap.
6. And I did not rejoice in the downfall of my colleagues.
7. And I did not call my colleague by his derogatory nickname, meaning: by a humiliating nickname others called him. And some say: I did not call my colleague by his family name as a loan name. Rather, I addressed him only by his given name to show respect and love for him.

In the Yerushalmi they add: Sages asked Rav Adda bar Ahava, “What good deeds do you have?” And he said:

8. No one ever preceded me to the synagogue.
9. And I never left a person in the synagogue and exited myself.
10. And the curse of my colleague never rested on my bed, meaning: during the Shema upon the bed, I forgive and pardon everyone.
11. And I never passed in the marketplace by a person who owed me anything, so as not to embarrass him if he had nothing to repay me. [Ta'anit 20a]

Self-Sacrifice

Abaye said to Rav Pappa: The early generations sacrificed their lives for the sanctification of God's name even in a matter where there was no obligation, therefore miracles beyond nature were performed for them. But we do not sufficiently sacrifice our lives, therefore miracles beyond nature are not performed for us. Abaye brought an example, and this is the incident: Rav Adda bar Ahava saw a Samaritan woman wearing clothing that daughters of Israel would not customarily wear due to its immodesty. Rav Adda bar Ahava thought she was one of the daughters of Israel, so he went and tore it off her! After the incident, it became clear to Rav Adda that she was a Samaritan. Rav Adda was obligated to pay for the damage to the garment, which was worth four hundred zuz. Rav Adda asked the Samaritan woman her name? She replied, “Matun.” Rav Adda said to her: “Matun, Matun, four hundred zuz it is worth!” Meaning: “Matun,” a word related to “Ma'atayim” [two hundred], caused me to lose twice two hundred, which is four hundred zuz. Rashi explained: “Matun” means slowness and waiting, that Rav Adda said, had I waited, I would have saved four hundred zuz. [Berachot 20a]

His Sayings

We learned in the Mishnah: Whether one offers much [a large animal sacrifice] or one offers little [a bird sacrifice or a meal offering] – as long as one directs one's heart to Heaven. From where do we learn this? Rav Adda bar Ahava said, from this verse: “When good increases, those who consume it increase, and what advantage is there for its owner?” [Ecclesiastes 5:10] Meaning: When there are many sacrifices, more kohanim will eat the meat, and what advantage is there in this for the Holy One, Blessed Be He? That He looks at a person's intention, if his intention is truly for the sake of Heaven. [Menahot 110a]