Em, Abaye’s Teacher
b. Kiddushin 31b
R. Yoḥanan [never saw his parents]. When his mother was pregnant with him, his father died; [and when] she gave birth to him, his mother died. And the same [is true of] Abaye.
[The Gemara asks:] Is that so? But didn’t Abaye say [on many occasions], “My mother [Em—Ed.] told me?” [The Gemara answers:] That [mother] was [actually] his foster mother.
b. Shabbat 133b–134a
[We learned in the mishnah:] And [on Shabbat] one places on [the wound from the circumcision] a bandage. Abaye said: My nurse [Em—Ed.] said to me: A bandage for all wounds [should be made from] seven parts fat and one part wax. [ . . . ]
[We learned in the mishnah:] And [on Shabbat] one may not make a pouch [to place over the circumcision as a bandage] ab initio. Abaye said: My mother [Em—Ed.] told me: [With regard to] that pouch, [placed as a bandage over the circumcision] of a baby, let one place it on the upper side [with the threads below], lest a thread from it stick to [the place of circumcision and cause the baby] to become [one with] a severed urethra. [The Gemara relates that] Abaye’s mother would make a pouch [that covered] half [the place of circumcision so that it would not be damaged through contact with the threads emerging from the edge of the pouch]. Abaye said: [If] this baby does not have a pouch [to put on the place of the circumcision], let one bring a worn-out garment with a hem, and wrap the hem under, and fold [the garment] over, [so that the threads from the worn-out garment will not adhere to the wound].
And Abaye [also] said: My mother told me: [In the case of] a baby [the location of] whose exit, [i.e., anus,] is unknown, [as it is obscured by skin,] let one rub it with oil and stand it before [the light of] the day. And where [it appears] transparent, let one tear it with a barley grain widthwise and lengthwise. However, [one may] not [tear it] with a metal implement because it causes infection and swelling. And Abaye said: My mother told me: [If] a baby refuses to nurse, [that is because] its mouth is cold [and it is unable to nurse]. What is his remedy? They should bring a cup [of] coals and place it near his mouth, so that his mouth will warm and he will nurse. And Abaye said: My mother told me: [A] baby that does not urinate, let one place him in a sieve [and shake him], and he will urinate.
And Abaye said: My nurse told me: [If] a baby is not breathing, let them bring his mother’s placenta and place [the placenta] on him, and [the baby] will breathe. And Abaye said: My mother told me: [If] a baby is [too] small, let them bring his mother’s placenta and rub [the baby] with it from the narrow [end] to the wide [end of the placenta]. And if [the baby] is strong, [i.e., too large, let them rub the baby] from the wide [end of the placenta] to the narrow [end]. And Abaye said: My mother told me: [If] a baby is red, [that is because] the blood has not yet been absorbed in him. [In that case,] let them wait until his blood is absorbed and then circumcise him. [Likewise, if a baby is] pale and his blood has not yet entered him, let them wait until his blood enters him and then circumcise him.
b. Eruvin 29b
Abaye said: Mother told me: These roasted grains are good for the heart and drive away [worrisome] thoughts.
And Abaye said: Mother told me [about another remedy]. One who suffers from weakness of the heart should [go and] bring the meat of the right thigh of a ram, and [also] bring the dung of grazing cattle from [the month of] Nisan, and if there is no cattle dung he should bring willow twigs, and [then] roast [the meat on a fire made with the dung or twigs], and eat [it], and drink afterward [some] diluted wine.
b. Yoma 78b
Abaye said: [My] mother told me: A child’s growth [requires] hot water and oil [for smearing. When] he grows a little, [he must eat] egg with kutaḥa, [a pickled dip made with milk]. When he grows a little [more, he must have] vessels to break, [since he will enjoy breaking them. This is like] Rabbah [who] bought cracked ceramic vessels for his children, and they broke them [for their enjoyment].
b. Mo‘ed Katan 12a, 18b
12a
Abaye said: [My] mother [Em—Ed.] told me: [It is better to have a barrel] of six se’ah that is sealed than [a barrel] of eight [se’ah] that is not sealed, [as in the end more beer will remain in the smaller sealed barrel than in the larger unsealed one]. [ . . . ]
18b
This [is referring] to a rumor that stops, [and therefore it is possible that it is groundless, whereas] that [is referring] to a rumor that does not stop, [and in that case there must be a factual basis for the suspicion. To be considered] a rumor that does not stop, for how long [must it persist]? Abaye said: My nurse [Em—Ed.] told me: Local gossip lasts for a day and a half, [and then it is deemed to be a rumor that does not stop].
b. Ketubbot 10b, 39b, 50a
10b
Abaye said: My mother told me [that] dates [eaten] before [eating] bread [are destructive] like an ax to a palm tree; [dates eaten] after [eating] bread [are beneficial] like a bolt to a door, [which provides support]. [ . . . ]
39b
Don’t we see that [even a married woman] has [pain when she engages in sexual relations for the first time]? Abaye said: My mother told me [that the pain is] like hot water on the head of a bald [man]. Rava said: [My wife,] Rav Ḥisda’s daughter, told me [that it is] like the stab of a bloodletting knife. R. Papa said: [My wife,] Abba Sura’s daughter, told me [that it is] like [the feeling of] hard bread on the gums. [ . . . ]
50a
Abaye said: [My] mother told me [that] a six-year-old [is ready] for Bible [study and] a ten-year-old [is mature enough] to [study] Mishnah. [Additionally,] a thirteen-year-old [is sufficiently developed] to fast for twenty-four hours [like any other adult]. And [as] for a girl, [she must start observing fasts when she is] twelve years old.
Abaye said: [My] mother told me [that] a six-year-old [child] who is stung by a scorpion on the day that [he] completes six [years] will not live [without emergency treatment]. What is his cure? The bile of a white vulture in beer. One should rub him [with this mixture] and make him drink [it. She further said to him: A one-]year-old [child] who is stung by a hornet on the day that [he] completes a year will not live [without emergency treatment]. What is his cure? Palm-tree fiber in water. [Again,] one should rub him [with it] and make him drink [it].
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
