Rabbah Tosafa'ah ( or ) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the eighth generation of amoraim.
Biography Opinions differ on the origin of his second name, "Tosefa'ah", seemingly from the Aramaic word tosefta (addition). According to one theory, the Talmud was substantially complete by this point, and he "added on" to the already existing work.Yitzhak Isaac Halevy Rabinowitz, Dorot Harishonim; Halevy, l.c. iii. 19; Brüll's "Jahrb." ii. 19 Others say he was an expert in the braitot and Tosefta which supplement the main works of the Oral Torah.Adin Steinsaltz, HaTalmud HaMevoar, Moed Kattan 4a According to a third approach, "Tosefa'ah" derives from his place of origin, perhaps Tushpa.Brüll, l.c.; Yaakov Epstein
He was a pupil of Ravina ISukkah 32a; compare Halevy, "Dorot ha-Rishonim," iii. 96 and a contemporary of Ravina II, with whom, sometimes, he is mentioned in the Talmud.Shabbat 95a; Moed Kattan 4a He succeeded Mar bar Rav Ashi as head of the Sura Academy, a position he held for six years (approximately 467-474). He died in 494.Sherira Gaon, in Neubauer, "M. J. C." i. 34; Abraham ibn Daud, "Sefer ha-Ḳabbalah," ib. i. 59
Teachings A few independent decisions of Rabbah have been preserved.Berachot 50a; Yevamot 80b One of them assumes that a woman's pregnancy may extend from nine to twelve months.Yevamot 80b
He is seldom mentioned by name in the Talmud—only in nine places. However, all sayings in the Babylonian Talmud introduced by "Yesh omerim" (some say) are ascribed to him.Heilprin, "Seder ha-Dorot," iii. 337; Brüll, l.c. ii. 13
His chief work was to complete, by additions and amplifications, the compilation of the Talmud begun by Rav Ashi. These additions consisted for the most part of short, explanatory remarks, indispensable for an understanding of Talmudic themes or for deciding between the conflicting opinions of older authorities.Halevy, l.c. p. 20 According to one theory mentioned above, this activity is the source of his name "Tosafa'ah".
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