Background
Ashi was born into a wealthy, scholarly family in 352.
Ashi was born into a wealthy, scholarly family in 352.
Rav Ashi studied with the great rabbis of his day.
While still a young man, he was appointed to head the famed academy at Sura, which had been closed fora few decades, and he remained in that position for more than half a century.
Hewas recognized as the spokesman and spiritual leader of the community and even the chief lay leader, the exilarch, usually notably jealous of the religious leaders, bowed to his authority. Ashi not only restored the fame of the academy, but reconstructed the building and its adjacent synagogue, personally supervising the work and partly financing it himself.
Twice a year, in the months of Adar and Elul, he conducted a study month to which Jews flocked from many countries to join the academy’s scholars and pupils in the study of a tractate of the Mishnah. Over the long period of Ashi’s direction, the entire Talmudic material was reviewed twice in this way.
Ashi commenced the monumental task of redacting the extensive traditions and discussions concerning the Mishnah which had emerged in the Babylonian academies over the two centuries since the Mishnah was redacted by Judah ha-Nasi. For over thirty years, he and his colleague, Ravina, were responsible for collecting and organizing the legislative discussions and decisions, the lore, legends and sayings that had accumulated. The work was finalized after his death by scholars from his academy following the guidelines and precedents that Ashi had laid down.
Quotations:
The haughty will eventually be humbled.
A scholar who is not as hard as iron is not a scholar.
Witnesses were created only against liars.
He was recognized as the spokesman and spiritual leader of the community and even the chief lay leader, the exilarch, usually notably jealous of the religious leaders, bowed to his authority.
Quotes from others about the person
It was said that since the days of Judah ha-Nasi “never were erudition and social distinction so united in one person as in Ashi.”