Rabbah [Kohen]

Third Generation of Amoraim. The unqualified "Rabbah" mentioned in the Gemara refers to Rabbah bar Nachmani, the uncle of Abaye, who was a Kohen. At the age of eighteen, he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva in Pumbedita, Babylonia, after his teacher Rabbi Yehuda bar Yechezkel, serving for twenty-two years until his passing. He was poor, and they barely found barley bread in his house [Sotah 35a]. Rabbah and Rabbi Yosef would chop wood in honor of Shabbat [Shabbat 119b]. His teacher was Rav Huna, his colleague and disputant was Rabbi Yosef, and his disciples were Rava and Abaye.

Self-Sacrifice

A certain informer told the government: Rabbah is preventing twelve thousand men from their work during the months of Nissan and Tishrei, because they come to hear discourses on holiday matters and are not at home to pay the imperial tax. The king sent soldiers to apprehend him! Rabbah fled from place to place until he was caught and locked in a room. Rabbah prayed, and a miracle occurred! The wall fell, and Rabbah escaped to a place called Agma and sat on a palm trunk, studying Torah. At that time, there was a dispute in the Heavenly Yeshiva concerning the laws of leprosy. The Holy One, blessed be He, declared it pure, while the Yeshiva declared it impure. They asked: Who will come here and decide? They said Rabbah should come and decide! In any case, the Angel of Death could not take him because his mouth did not cease from engaging in Torah study! Suddenly, a strong wind blew! Rabbah thought to himself, behold, the king's legions searching for him have arrived. Rabbah said: It is better to die than to fall into the hands of the government. Immediately, at that moment when he paused his study, the angel succeeded in taking his soul. Rabbah managed to give an answer to the question and said: Pure, pure. A Heavenly Voice (Bat Kol) emerged and said: Fortunate are you, Rabbah bar Nachmani, whose body is pure and whose soul departed in purity. A note fell from Heaven in Pumbedita, and it was written: "Rabbah bar Nachmani has been requested in the Heavenly Yeshiva." Abaye, Rava, and all the sages went out and searched for him to bring him to burial. They went to Agma and saw birds providing shade with their wings. They said: Surely Rabbah is there, and they brought him to burial. They eulogized him for three days and three nights. They wanted to stop! A note fell from Heaven, and it was written: "Whoever departs shall be excommunicated!" They eulogized him until seven days. A note fell from Heaven, and it was written: "Go to your homes in peace." On the day Rabbah bar Nachmani passed away, there was such a storm that it carried an Arab camel rider from one side of the river to the other. The Arab asked why the storm was raging? They told him: Rabbah bar Nachmani has passed away! He said: Master of the Universe, the entire world is Yours, and Rabbah is Yours. You love Rabbah, and Rabbah loves You, why do You destroy the world?! Immediately, the wind subsided [Bava Metzia 86a].