Rabbah Bar Huna

(d. 322 CE). Babylonian amora of the second-third generation. Rabbah studied under his father, R. Huna of Sura. He was associated with R. ḥisda, serving together with him as a dayyan and succeeding him as head of the Sura Academy. In a clash with the exilarchate he exclaimed: "Not from you did I receive the authority to judge and teach but from my father and my father from Rav and Rav from R. Ḥiyya and R. Ḥiyya from Judah ha-Nasi" (Sanh. 5a). He was wealthy but humble and pious, saying: "Whoever has knowledge of Torah but does not fear God is like a treasurer given the keys to the inner sanctum of the treasure house but not to the outer door---how will he enter?" (Shab. 31a-b). He was buried in Erets Israel (MK 25b).

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