RAV HISDA [c. 230-310 CE] is one of the most frequently quoted scholars in the Babylonian Talmud, and all of our information about him comes from that source. He came from the town of Kafri, but his principle teachers were Rav and Avimi of Sura. After Rav's death, he moved to Sura to study under Rav's successor Huna, and he became head of Sura's academy following Huna's death. Hisda's colleagues were Rav Nachman and Rav Sheshet, the latter of whom used to tremble at his reasoning acuity. His students included Rabbah bar Huna, Abaye, Rami bar Chama, Abba bar Joseph, Hamnuna, and several of his own sons - Nachman, Pinchas, Mari, and Hanan.

Because of his prominence, the Talmud preserves many traditions concerning his character, his manner of teaching, and his personal life. Despite coming from a priestly family, Hisda spent his early years in poverty, although he eventually became wealthy as a date beer brewer. At the age of 16 he married the daughter of Rav Hanan, the son-in-law of Rav, though in his opinion it would have been better to marry two years earlier. He had a large family - seven sons and at least two daughters. The latter married two brothers, Rami bar Chama and Ukva bar Chama, who became outstanding scholars. But his greatest son-in-law was Rava [Abba bar Joseph], whom his widowed daughter married after Rami bar Chama died.

In his private life Hisda was modest and fastidious, affable and friendly to all. He made an effort to be the first to great people in the marketplace, even Persians. His life was apparently quite happy, as there were many joyous occasions during his lifetime, as it says in Moed Katan 28a, "In Rav Hisda's house they celebrated 60 weddings." He and Rav Huna were called the pious ones of Babylonia, for when they prayed for rain together during a drought, their prayers were answered.

He instituted the tefillat haderech, the traveler's prayer, and transmitted the prayer the Kohanim say before reciting the priestly benediction. While other rabbis permitted meat and dairy at the same meal if one ate some bread or rinsed his mouth between the two foods, Hisda proposed that they should be eaten at different meals. He lived to an advanced age, and the Talmud reports that he was so intensely involved in his studies that the Angel of Death was powerless over him until a tree branch cracked and distracted Hisda just long enough that his soul could be taken.