Moving from Babylonia to Israel around the same time as his uncle, Rav Chiyya, Rav studied in Rabbi' Yehudah haNasi's academy. Not finding his place there, he moved back to eventually set up an academy in Sura. His academy came to rival Shmuel's academy in Nehardea, as the fame of Rav's wisdom and learning spread far and wide. Besides his many legal decisions and interpretations, he wrote many prayers that are still in use.
Notable Sources
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Rav's Daily Prayer
LITURGY
The Talmud in tractate Berakhot lists different prayers that particular rabbis would recite every day, including one by Rav. As explained in this siddur, Rav's daily prayer has been adapted by some communities to be recited during the Shabbat preceding the beginning of a new month.
The Transformation of Sura
REFERENCE
Rav's establishment of an academy in Sura transformed a crime-ridden area into a hub of culture, security, and economic opportunity. Gershom Bader's early 20th-century work highlights the significant impact of Rav's academy on the local population and Jewish scholarship.
The Evolution of the יְהִי רָצוֹן Prayer
LITURGY
The יְהִי רָצוֹן prayer, originally composed by Rav of Sura, appears in the Talmud as his daily supplication but not specifically for blessing the new month. Ashkenazi Jews adopted it for Shabbat morning services before Rosh Chodesh, adding a request for a blessed month. In contrast, Sephardic Jews omit it due to its absence in key texts like those of Rambam, highlighting differing traditions regarding Rosh Chodesh observance.
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