Rabbi Zeira

Talmudic Figures

R. Zera was a student of R. Yehudah b. Yehezkel in Babylonia. Yet he greatly yearned to move to the Land of Israel and fasted for 100 days before he could feel worthy to do so. There, he studied under R. Elazar b. Pedat and R. Abahu and became known as the Pious Man of Babylonia.

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Rabbi Zeira's Personality

REFERENCE

Rabbi Zeira is remembered not only for his teachings but also for his life experience and personality. This biographical account from Gershom Bader's work from the 20th century offers insights into the life and character of Rabbi Zeira, an influential Amora from the Talmudic period.

NEXT TO RABBI JOCHANAN there was none among the “Amoraim” concerning whom so many legends were related as were told of Rabbi Zeira. These referred less to his greatness in learning than they did to his unusual personality and to the great friendship which united him with the other scholars who lived in Palestine during the fourth century of the Christian era. Rabbi Zeira came to Palestine from Babylonia when he was already well versed in learning. At the time of his arrival his opinions were already quoted in the academies of Babylonia and various…

The Jewish Spiritual Heroes, Volume II; The Amoraim of Palestine and the Jerusalem Talmud, Rabbi Zeira

A Miraculous Revival on Purim

TALMUD

The story of Rabba and Rabbi Zeira during Purim highlights the extraordinary nature of miracles and the caution one should exercise in not relying on them. In the Talmud, Tractate Megillah recounts how Rabba accidentally kills Rabbi Zeira during a Purim feast and then revives him through prayer, only for Rabbi Zeira to decline repeating the experience.

The Gemara relates that Rabba and Rabbi Zeira prepared a Purim feast with each other, and they became intoxicated to the point that Rabba arose and slaughtered Rabbi Zeira. The next day, when he became sober and realized what he had done, Rabba asked God for mercy, and revived him. The next year, Rabba said to Rabbi Zeira: Let the Master come and let us prepare the Purim feast with each other. He said to him: Miracles do not happen each and every hour, and I do not want to undergo that experience again.

Megillah 7b:8

Rabbi Zeira's Dilemma

TALMUD

Rabbi Zeira's aspiration to ascend to Eretz Yisrael was in direct conflict with his teacher Rav Yehuda's disapproval, highlighting a significant tension in their relationship. The Talmudic narrative in Ketubot reveals the complexities of rabbinic authority and personal aspirations in the context of Jewish law and tradition.

§ The Gemara relates: Rabbi Zeira was avoiding being seen by his teacher, Rav Yehuda, as Rabbi Zeira sought to ascend to Eretz Yisrael and his teacher disapproved. As Rav Yehuda said: Anyone who ascends from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael transgresses a positive mitzva, as it is stated:

Ketubot 110b:25

Rabbi Zeira's Spiritual Dedication

TALMUD

Rabbi Zeira's dedication to spiritual growth and protection is exemplified by his extensive fasting for profound reasons. The Babylonian Talmud in tractate Bava Metzia recounts Rabbi Zeira's extraordinary efforts, including fasting three hundred times, to achieve spiritual goals.

The Gemara relates a similar occurrence: When Rabbi Zeira ascended from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael, he fasted one hundred fasts so that he would forget the Babylonian method of studying Gemara, so that it would not hinder him from adapting to the unique style of study prevalent in Eretz Yisrael. He fasted an additional one hundred fasts so that Rabbi Elazar, ben Pedat, would not die during his lifetime, which would have caused the burden of communal matters to fall upon him…

Bava Metzia 85a:21

The Piety of Rabbi Zera

MIDRASH

Rabbi Zera's intense personal piety and self-discipline are exemplified by his numerous fasts and his practice of testing himself with a heated oven to ensure his spiritual purity. The Ein Yaakov, a 16th-century compilation of Talmudic stories and parables, offers a glimpse into the deep spiritual and ascetic practices of the sages.

When R. Zera ascended to Palestine, he fasted one hundred days in order to forget the Babylonian Talmud, so that he should not become confused by it. Then he fasted another hundred days, that R. Eliezer might not die during his life, so that he would not have to bear all the troubles of the congregation. Then he fasted another hundred days, that the fire of Gehenna might not affect him. Every thirty days he used to examine himself by a heated oven, and the fire did not affect him. It happened, however, one day, that the Rabbis gave their attention to this, and he burned his hips…

Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Bava Metzia 7:12

The Primacy of Study Over Debate

MUSAR

The path to spiritual growth and atonement, as articulated in Orchot Tzadikim, emphasizes the supremacy of Torah study and personal improvement over contentious debates. This ethical work cites Rabbi Zera's example from Bava Metzia, where he undertook a hundred-day fast to distance himself from Babylonian teachings, underscoring the importance of dedicated study in achieving spiritual clarity and virtue.

And they said, in the chapter entitled "The hiring of workers" (Baba Mezi'a 85a and see Rashi) : When R. Zera emigrated to Palestine he fasted forty days (some texts read 100 fasts) to forget the Babylonian Talmud, that it should not trouble him. And they said : If a man stumbled by committing a sin for which the penalty is death by the decree of Heaven, what should he do so that he may live? If he was accustomed to read one page of the Talmud let him read two pages, if he was accustomed to repeat a chapter once let him repeat it twice…

Orchot Tzadikim 27:35

Rabbi Zeira's Reverence for the Land of Israel

REFERENCE

Rabbi Zeira's journey to the Land of Israel is marked by his impatience and deep sense of unworthiness, reflecting his profound reverence for its sanctity. This narrative from the Talmudic period illustrates the spiritual significance and deep reverence that the Land of Israel holds in Jewish tradition.

As he approached Palestine, Rabbi Zeira reached a river and in his impatience he did not wait until he would find a boat but he discarded his garments and swam across. A Gentile who heard of this then said to him: “The Jews were always hasty and they remained so to this day. In your haste you could easily have been drowned.” But Rabbi Zeira answered him: “As I was standing at the border of Palestine, I wondered whether I was worthy to enter the land which Moses and Aaron could not enter.”

The Jewish Spiritual Heroes, Volume II; The Amoraim of Palestine and the Jerusalem Talmud, Rabbi Zeira 7

The Legacy of Rabbi Zeira

TALMUD

Rabbi Zeira's move from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael and his impact on the community in Tiberias highlight the profound loss felt upon his death. The Talmudic eulogy for Rabbi Zeira emphasizes his significant transition and the deep mourning of the Tiberian community.

Megillah 6a:3

A Bride Without Adornments

TALMUD

Rabbi Zeira's qualifications for ordination were so exceptional that he was metaphorically compared to a bride who radiates grace without the need for adornments. The Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin discusses the ordination ceremonies of Rabbi Zeira, Rabbi Ami, and Rabbi Asi, highlighting their exceptional qualifications and warning against ordaining unworthy individuals.

The Gemara relates: When they ordained Rabbi Zeira the Sages who were present at the ceremony sang to him this paean of praise traditionally sung to a bride at her wedding: She wears no blue eye shadow and no rouge on her face and no hair dye, and nevertheless she radiates grace. The bride is described as so beautiful that she does not need any cosmetics or adornments, and metaphorically Rabbi Zeira is praised as exceptionally and recognizably qualified for his appointment…

Sanhedrin 14a:11