CAHANA. – Various Jewish doctors among the Amoraim (v.) bear this name, an Aramaic form of the Hebrew kōhēn ("priest"). It is difficult to determine in each case which Rabbi C. is being referred to.
The most important are: C. ‘Amōrā, of the first generation (appears in the Palestinian Talmud without the title of rabbi); R. C., of the second generation, a contemporary and friend of R. ‘Āsī (v.), who reports many traditions in the name of Rab (Abba Areka) and sometimes in the name of Semū’el. A stay in Palestine is recorded for him, where he attended the school of R. Jōhānān (v.). Others of this name are: R. C. ben R. Hījā ben Abūā; R. C. teacher of Rab; and finally the best known: C. ben Tahlīfā, a celebrated haggadist and author of the Pīsīgītā (v.), born in Pum-Nahara (Babylonia) around 330, a disciple of Rab, who from 397 until his death (413) was PUMBÉDITA (v.).