HU?AL

HU?AL (or Huzal of Benjamin ; Meg. 5b), Babylonian town between Nehardea and Sura, but nearer the latter. There was a Jewish settlement in Hu?al from early times and it was famous for its ancient synagogue, which according to tradition was built by the first exiles from Judah and "the Divine Presence dwelt within it" (Meg. 29a; Iggeret Rav Sherira Ga'on, ed. by B.M. Levin (1921), 72f.). Two great scholars from Hu?al are already known in the middle of the second century c.e.: Josiah, who studied under *Ishmael in Ere? Israel (Men. 57b), and Joseph of Hu?al, who studied under *Yose b. ?alafta in Sepphoris (Yoma 52b; Ned. 81a). The inhabitants of Hu?al were known for their fastidiousness with regard to food (Ned. 49b). Hu?al came under the spiritual influence of Sura, such scholars as *?isda and *Ashi sending their decisions there (?ul. 107a, 132b). Among the amoraim originating from Hu?al were Assi of Hu?al, who was active in the first half of the third century (?ul. 26b), and A?a of Hu?al of the fourth or the beginning of the fifth century (Ker. 13b).

bibliography:

Neubauer, Géogr, 350; A. Berliner, Beitraege zur Geographie und Ethnographie Babyloniens im Talmud und Midrasch (1883), 32; J. Obermeyer, Die Landschaft Babylonien im Zeitalter des Talmuds und des Gaonats (1929), 299–301; Neusner, Babylonia, 2 (1966), 126, 145, 234. add. bibliography: B. Eshel, Jewish Settlements in Babylonia during Talmudic Times (1979), 105–107.

[Moshe Beer]