Anan

Who is Anan?

Anan was a Babylonian amora of the third century, disciple of Mar Samuel, and contemporary of Rav Huna and Mar 'Uḳba II.. Anecdote and legend combine to illustrate Anan's renown for extreme conscientiousness in his capacity as judge in civil cases, as well as for his theosophic speculations. The book Tanna Devei Eliyahu is said to have been composed during visitations Anan received from the prophet Elijah. Anan was prominent as a teacher of civil law and of ritual; and though Rav Nachman once criticized one of his arguments — remarking, "While attending Mar Samuel, you must have spent your time in playing at checkers" — he highly respected him, and addressed him with the title of Mar. Rav Huna, on his part, did not consider Anan his equal; and when the latter once addressed to him a message, headed, "To Huna, our colleague, greetings," he felt himself depreciated and replied in a manner that embarrassed Anan. In the field of the Aggadah, Anan rarely appears, and then only as the transmitter of observations of his predecessors. But many of his teachings were probably incorporated with those of the students of the school that bore his name, Debe Rab Anan.