Babylonian Commoners in Amoraic Palestine

Abstract

Numerous Babylonians immigrated to Palestine during the Amoraic period. Although the majority of Talmudic material stresses the role of the Sages and Rabbis in this immigration, a number of Talmudic traditions also record a large immigration of Babylonian commoners. These traditions are most unusual in that they increase our store of knowledge regarding aspects of demography of the ancient world which are now far from clear. The immigration traditions, supplemented by archaeological evidence, point to established Babylonian communities in most of the large centers of Palestine and especially to those connected with the international textile and silk trade. THE AMORAIC PERIOD is generally regarded as the period which marked the growth of the Babylonian academies and the eventual supremacy of the Babylonian center. Less attention, however, is paid to the fact that throughout the entire Amoraic period numerous Babylonians immigrated to Palestine to live and to study.' Many of these Babylonians were quite able scholars and soon occupied positions of leadership in all aspects of Palestinian life.2 It is thus not surprising that the Talmudic traditions dealing with this phenomenon should especially stress the role of the more famous immigrants. However, it would be quite incorrect to assume that immigration from Babylonia to