Rav Idi bar Abin Naggara (or Idi bar Abin,ABIN NAGGARA, jewishencyclopedia.com; Article on his father or Idi ben Abin, or Rav Idi b. Avin (I),Rav Idi b. Avin (I) | רב אידי בר אבין, sages of the talmud | חכמי התלמוד or Ada bar Abin) was a Jewish Babylonian rabbi who lived around 350 CE (fourth generation of amoraim).
Biography He was the son of Abin Naggara, who likely worked as a carpenter (Naggara = "the carpenter"), and who came from Nerash or Nerus () in Babylonia. It is said that Rav Huna once passed the door of R. Abin and, when seeing the house lit by Shabbat candles, remarked that "Two great men will issue hence",Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 23b since it is stated that "He who habitually practises [the lighting of] the lamp will possess scholarly sons". Indeed, he then had two scholarly sons: Idi and Hiyya b. Abin Naggara.
Idi married a woman of Kohen descent and thus ate the foreleg, cheeks and maw.Deuteronomy 18:3; Mishna Hullin 10:1 His sons Shesheth and Shisha were ordained to teach.Pesachim 49a; Zevachim 6a; Hullin 67b; Eruvin 102a
Idi acquired his Torah knowledge from Rav Amram and Rav Chisda. He also delivered papers in the name of R. Isaac b. Ashian, most of them in the Aggadah, and most likely he was also his pupil. Idi gave an explanation in the presence of Rav Yosef,Shabbat 60a had discussions with Abaye on various occasions,Bava Metzia 35b and likewise gave explanations in the presence of Rabbah bar Nahmani.Eruvin 56b; Kiddushin 40a He also had occasion to appear in the court of Rav Chisda.Bava Batra 33a His pupils were Rav Pappa and Huna b. Joshua, who were hosted at one of his sons' houses.Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 136a
Idi was considered the main authority in Nerash, where he introduced a certain law.Nedarim 67b Idi seems to have moved at a later period to Shekanzib, where he had occasion to receive Pappa and Huna, whom he treated in a somewhat slighting manner.Yevamot 85a
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