Rav Aha bar Tahalifa

Fourth Generation Amora, a prominent disciple of Rava, he stated teachings in Rava's name and raised objections to Rava.

His Sharpness

It once happened that someone sold land to his fellow and the seller undertook responsibility to compensate the buyer for any unforeseen event (ones) that might occur to the land. Eventually, the king commanded that the river be diverted through that field. The buyer came before Ravina to demand compensation from the seller, since he had given him responsibility for an unforeseen event! Ravina said to the seller: Go and bring him another field and pay him for his damage, for you have taken upon yourself every unforeseen event that might befall the field! Rav Aha bar Tahalifa said to Ravina: But this case is an unusual unforeseen event (ones), and the seller did not intend to take responsibility for such an event! The matter unfolded and the story reached Rava. Rava said to them: This is an unusual unforeseen event and certainly the seller did not intend for such an event! Ravina listened and said, But we learned in a Baraita: If he said to his wife, 'This is your get (divorce document) if I do not recover from this illness,' and a house fell on him or a snake bit him and he died, this is a get! And we learn from this that he considers and intends to stipulate even for an unusual unforeseen event, therefore the get takes effect and is valid even if he did not recover from the illness but from something unusual? Rava said to Ravina: You should deduce the opposite from the first part (reisha) of the Baraita: If he stipulated in his get, that it should take effect from today if I die from this illness, and a house fell on him or a snake bit him, it is not a get. And from this we learn that he does not consider stipulating for an unusual unforeseen event! Ravina said: If so, there is a contradiction in the Baraita between the reisha and the seifa (last part), and one cannot derive anything from it or bring any proof from it. Rav Aha of Difti said to Ravina: Since there is a difficulty between the reisha and the seifa in the Baraita, one does not raise an objection from it! But it is still a Baraita and an Amora cannot dispute a Baraita. He said to him: Correct, one does not raise an objection against the words of an Amora from it, because there is a difficulty between the reisha and the seifa. The Baraita was not stated in a place where Sages (talmidei chakhamim) were present to reconcile it, and the Baraita is flawed. Since you cannot rely on the version of the Baraita, follow the logical reasoning (sevara), and the sevara states: that the seller did not intend to include an unusual unforeseen event in his condition. [גיטין עג.]

His Respect for Rav Aha bar Yaakov

Rabbi Elazar of Hagronya and Rav Aha bar Tahalifa happened to visit the house of Rav Aha b. Rav Ika, in the place of Rav Aha bar Yaakov, who was the city's head rabbi (Mara d'Atra). Rav Aha b. Rav Ika wished to slaughter and cook for them a calf in its third stage of growth, when its meat is at its peak flavor. He brought the slaughtering knife and showed it to his guests, Rabbi Elazar of Hagronya and Rav Aha bar Tahalifa. Rav Aha bar Tahalifa said to him: Should we not be concerned for the honor of Rav Aha bar Yaakov, who is the Mara d'Atra of the city, and show him the knife?! Rabbi Elazar of Hagronya said to them: Thus said Rava: A Torah scholar sees for himself, and we ourselves can see the knife. Rabbi Elazar of Hagronya saw the knife, and was punished for seeing it! But one must wonder! After all, Rava said: A Torah scholar sees and inspects the slaughtering knife, so why was he punished?! They explained the matter: The case here is different! Since Rav Aha bar Tahalifa said to him, 'Let us be concerned for the elder,' and they began to discuss the honor of Rav Aha bar Yaakov, he should not have treated the matter lightly. And another explanation is possible: Rav Aha bar Yaakov was advanced in age and wisdom, and his honor should have been considered. Rava said: In order to prevent a person from committing a transgression, for example: if a student sees a person who wishes to transgress, and his Rabbi is there and remains silent, even in the presence of the Rabbi, if the student jumps up and rebukes him, it is very good. [עירובין סג.]

His Wisdom

It once happened that gentiles from a place called "Beit Gannana" cut myrtle branches for wedding canopies on the second day of Yom Tov (holiday), which were tied to the canopies for beauty and a pleasant scent. On the evening after Yom Tov, Ravina permitted them to smell them immediately, meaning at once, and they did not need to wait "until they could have been made" (bichdei sheya'asu), because the second day of Yom Tov is more lenient. Rav Aha bar Tahalifa said to Ravina: You should prohibit the myrtles to them "until they could have been made"! Because the people of Gannana are not Torah scholars and will come to treat the second day of Yom Tov lightly! Or they will come to permit this even on the first day of Yom Tov! Rabbi Shemaya asked: Should they wait "until they could have been made" because they are not Torah scholars! And if they were Torah scholars, it would be permitted?! But one must wait "until they could have been made" even on the second day of Yom Tov? They went and asked Rava what the law was in this case? Rava said to them: Even on the second day of Yom Tov, which is more lenient, one must wait after Yom Tov "until they could have been made". [עירובין מ.]