Abba bar Zabdai

Abba (Ba) bar Zabdai (Hebrew: אבא בר זבדי) was a Palestinian amora who flourished in the 3rd century. He studied in Babylonia, attending the lectures of Rab and Rav Huna, and subsequently settled at Tiberias, where he occupied a respected position by the side of Rav Ammi and Assi. Mention is made of his custom of saying his prayers in a loud voice (Yer. Berachot iv.7a). Of his haggadic productions there exists, among others, a sermon for a public fast-day, on Lamentations iii.41 (Yer. Ta'anit, ii.65a), from which the following may be quoted: