Rav Mesharshiya

Rav Mesharshiya (or R. Mesharshya, or Rav Mesharsheya, or Rav Mesharshia; Hebrew: רב משרשיא) was a fifth generation Amora sage of Babylon. His Teacher par excellence was Rava, and they are mentioned together dozens of times in the Talmud. It is possible he was also a pupil of Abaye. He was a close colleague of Rav Papa, who was also a pupil of Rava, and he even sent his son to study under Rav Papa. R. Joseph the son of R. Ila'i was also among his colleagues. His father-in-law is reminded on his name as R. Kahana the father-in-law of R. Mesharshya. Three of his sons were Amora sages, and studied at Rav Ashi's Beth midrash. Their name: Raba, R. Sama, and R. Isaac who was an honorable and dignified man. The Talmud states that Rav Mesharshiya himself encouraged them to learn in this Beth midrash.