Rav Shela

For the fourth generation Amora of Babylon, see Rabbah b. Shela.

Shela (Hebrew: רבי שילא) was a Babylonian teacher of the latter part of the tannaitic and the beginning of the amoraic period, and head of the school ("sidra") at Nehardea.^[1] When Rav visited Babylonia, he once officiated as an expounder (amora) for R. Shela at his public lectures.^[2] The school at Nehardea was named in honor of Shela; and its scholars were accordingly known as "D'Bei R. Shela."

With the exception of a mishnaic interpretation,^[3] none of Shela's teachings is known, although some of the sayings of the students of his academy, the Bei R. Shela, are mentioned in the Talmud.^[4]

References

1. Yoma 20a; Letter of Sherira Gaon, in Neubauer, M. J. C. i. 28
2. Yoma 20a
3. Yoma 20a
4. Pesachim 39b; Rosh Hashana 23b; Gittin 52b; Kiddushin 43a

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "Shela". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. It has the following bibliography:
• Weiss, Dor. iii. 746–747;
• Halevy, Dorot ha-Rishonim, ii. 223–225;
• Bacher, Ag. Bab. Amor. p. 35.