Dear Rabbis,
I recently started studying Gemarah and came up upon a question that I cannot seem to find an answer for. At certain times Rebbe Meir is called just that , and at others he is called Rebbe Nehorai. It is brought that he is called both Meir and Nehorai because he enlightened the faces of our sages in halacha. Is there any reason the Gemara refers to him as Rebbe Meir at times and at others Nehorai?
Respectfully,
Pinchas Mizrachi, Aventura, FL USA
It might be that he is called Rebbi Nehorai only if he taught the statement we are quoting after he reached the status that earned him that nickname.
Below I am attaching an answer that we prepared for a similar question.
By the way, your question is based on the Rambam's introduction to the Mishnah, where he learns that Rebbi Meir is Rebbi Nehorai is Rebbi Nechemyah. However, this is contradicted by many Gemaras - see especially Sanhedrin 14a.
The simple meaning of the Gemara in Eruvin here is that Rebbi Nechemyah was called Nehorai. In fact, some manuscripts record that the Gemara never attributes the name Nehorai to Rebbi Meir, but the name Mei'asha (see Toras Chayim).
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld
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General: Elisha ben Avuyah
Dovid Kinzbrunner asked:
4:25 - It quotes in the name of Elisha ben Avuyah. Why does it not use "Acher" as is used throughout the Talmud?
The only thing I can think of is because it is quoting a teahing in his name, something positive so to speak.
Dovid Kinzbrunner, Lauderhill, FL USA
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The Kollel replies:
(a) In Moed Katan 20a he is also quoted by name.
(b) Tosfos brings an opinion (Sotah 12a DH Acher) that the Beraisa uses the term "Acherim Omrim" when quoting something Rebbi Meir learned from Elisha ben Avuyah, instead of using his name. If so, even his teachings are not cited with his name. (Tosfos, however, eventually rejects this opinion.)
(c) A question similar to yours may be asked regarding Rebbi Nosson, who is cited as "Yesh Omrim" (Horayos 13b) yet is often cited by name. He is even mentioned together with "Yesh Omrim" in some Beraisos.
Tosfos writes that Rebbi Nosson and Rebbi Meir are quoted by name when citing what they taught before they slighted Rebbi (see Horayos 13b), and what they taught afterwards is cited anonymously. Perhaps the same may be said of Elisha - what he taught before sinning is quoted in his name.
Can someone tell me though, why the Beraisa sometimes quotes Rebbi Yehuda ha'Nasi by name and sometimes just calls him Rebbi? Was there some point after which he was accepted as leader of all Israel that he was nicknamed Rebbi?
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld