AŠI BEN SIMAJ. – Babylonian Amora (v.) of the sixth generation, born in 352 and died in 427. He reopened the academy of Sura, of which he was the head from 375 until his death. His activity was directed toward collecting and coordinating the Talmudic material accumulated by the Babylonian rabbis over the course of two centuries. He enjoyed great prestige among his contemporaries on account of his learning. To him and to his successor Rabină (v. ABINĂ) is attributed the definitive redaction of the Babylonian Talmud.
BIBL.: H. L. Strack, Einleitung in Talmud und Midraš, 5th ed., Monaco 1921, p. 148. Alfredo Ravenna