Abaye

Abaye, whose given name was apparently Nachmani, was orphaned at birth and raised by his uncle Rabbah bar Nachmani, head of the academy of Pumbedita, and by a foster mother whose remedies and advice he often quotes with the words "Mother told me." He studied under Rabbah and Rav Yosef and succeeded Rav Yosef as head of Pumbedita until his death around 339. He was a priest descended, according to the Talmud, from the house of Eli, whose family was cursed with short lives; Rosh Hashanah 18a says Abaye reached sixty because he joined Torah study with acts of kindness.

His arguments with his friend Rava, the "discussions of Abaye and Rava" (havayot de-Abaye ve-Rava), became the model of Talmudic analysis. In their disputes the law follows Rava except in six cases, remembered by the acronym YAL KGM (Bava Metzia 22b). He was known for his gentle manner, teaching that a person should always be "shrewd in fear of Heaven," answer softly, and increase peace with everyone, even a stranger in the market (Berakhot 17a).