Rabbi Simlai (Hebrew: רבי שמלאי) was a talmudic rabbi who lived in Israel in the 3rd century (second generation of amoraim).
He was born in either Lod1 or Babylonia.2 He later moved to the Galilee, where he served as an aide to Rabbi Yannai.3 He studied in Tzippori under Rabbi Yochanan4 and Hanina bar Hama.5 He then studied under Rabbi Judah II, the grandson of Judah haNasi. He attempted in vain to induce Judah II to abrogate the prohibition against using bread prepared by pagans.6 Late in life he moved to Babylonia.7
He was a famous aggadist, and the calculation of 613 Mitzvot is attributed to him.8 According to the Jewish tradition, he frequently debated the Christians.9
References
References
- Pesachim 62b
- Pesachim 5:3
- Bava Batra 111a
- Yerushalmi Pesachim 5:3
- Yerushalmi Peah 8:8
- Avodah Zarah 37a
- Avodah Zarah 36; Yerushalmi Shabbat 1:4
- Abrahams, Israel (1907). Judaism (pdf). London: Archibald Constable & co. ltd. p. 28.
- Genesis Rabbah 8:9; Yerushalmi Brachot 9:1