Amora

/əˈmɔːrə/ noun

Definition

In Jewish tradition, a scholar or teacher of the Talmud, particularly those who lived after the compilation of the Mishnah.

Etymology

From Aramaic 'amoraim' (speakers or interpreters), referring to the scholars who interpreted and discussed Jewish law and teachings. The term reflects the oral tradition of Jewish scholarship, where teachers would explain and debate textual meaning.

Kelly Says

The Amoraim were like the world's first academic peer reviewers—they spent generations debating every possible interpretation of Jewish law in discussion circles, creating a written record of their arguments that became the Gemara (part of the Talmud)!

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