place · L0201
Pumbedita פומבדיתא
Babylonian city on the Euphrates, home of the academy founded by Rav Yehudah after the destruction of Nehardea. Famed for its sharp dialectic ("they can pass an elephant through the eye of a needle"), it remained a seat of Torah into the geonic era, ending with Rav Hai Gaon (d. 1038).
I. Who
- Hebrew
- פומבדיתא
- Also known as
- Pum Bedita
III. Where
- Modern location
- Identified with the area of modern Fallujah, Iraq
V. How do we know
| Claim | Evidence | Confidence | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| After Nehardea's destruction, Shmuel's student Rav Yehudah was in Pumbedita — the beginning of its academy, which the Iggeret then chronicles head by head into the geonic period. | tradition | ★★★★☆ | |
| The identification with the vicinity of modern Fallujah rests on geographic notices in talmudic, geonic, and Arabic sources rather than excavation.
Coordinates approximate. |
external reconstruction | ★★★☆☆ |
Referenced by: Rav Yehudah, Rabbah, Rav Yosef, Abaye, Rav Kahana (of Pum Nahara), Yehudai Gaon, Sherira Gaon, Hai Gaon, Rav Huna bar Chiya, Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, Rav Chama, Rav Zevid, Rav Dimi of Nehardea, Rafram, Rav Acha bar Rava, Rav Gevihah of Bei Katil, Rafram II (of Pumbedita), Rav Richumai, Rav Sama bar Rava, Rav Yosi, Rav Simona, Mar bar Rav Chanan of Ashkaya, Rav Dodai bar Nachman, Rav Paltoi bar Abaye, Rav Tzemach bar Paltoi, Yehudah Gaon (of Pumbedita), Rav Kohen Tzedek Kahana bar Yosef, Rav Tzemach bar Kafnai, Chananya Gaon, Aharon ibn Sarjado, Rav Nehemiah bar Kohen Tzedek, Rabbah Yosef, Ravai of Rov, Mar Rav Mari bar Dimi, Mar Rav Chanina (of the Bnei Gahara), Mar Rav Chana, Mar Rav Yitzchak (of Peroz-Shapur), Mar Rav Rabbah (of Pumbedita), Rav Bosai, Rav Huna Mari bar Yosef, Rav Chiya of Meshan, Mar Rav Ravya, Rav Natronai bar Nehemiah, Mar Rav Yehudah (I of Pumbedita), Rav Yosef bar Kitnai, Rav Shmuel bar Mar, Rav Natroi Kahana bar Ahnai, Rav Avraham Kahana, Rav Chananya bar Mesharshiya, Rav Malka bar Acha, Rav Abba bar Dodai, Rav Shinoi, Rav Chaninai Kahana bar Avraham, Rav Huna bar HaLevi, Rav Menashe bar Yosef, Rav Yeshaya HaLevi bar Abba, Rav Yosef bar Shila, Rav Kahana bar Chaninai, Rav Avumai, Rav Yosef bar Abba, Rav Avraham bar Sherira, Rav Yosef bar Chiya, Rav Yitzchak bar Chananya, Rav Yosef bar Ravrevai, Rav Achai Kahana bar Mar, Rav Menachem bar Yosef, Rav Matityahu bar Rabbi, Rav Abba bar Ammi, Rav Hai bar David, Rav Kimoi bar Achai, Rav Mevasser Kahana bar Kimoi, Academy of Pumbedita, Savoraim