[Avodah] generation lists

[Micha Berger]

RnSP asked at 2:46pm PST:
> Does anyone know of an accessible, complete list of the generations of
> the Tanaim and Amoraim?  It could be part of a book, a separate book,
> a pamphlet, article

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view_page.jsp?artid=59&letter=T&pid=0
(The html version didn't preserve the table's details, just the names.)

Claims to include "all the zeqeinim harishonim, tannaim, and amoraim
mentioned in the Talmudic-Midrashic literature." Although many of the
rare names aren't assigned a generation, perhaps because it can't be
done.

Although a flowchart of who taught who might be far far more useful.

I was just looking at a parallel page for geonim
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/table.jsp?table_id=150&volid=5&title=GAON

Why? Becuase I got it in my head that it would be really interesting to
map every link in the chain from MRAH to myself. It proved to be
relatively easy, since a number of people do it for RCBrisker, and from
there to R' Shimon Shkop, R' Dovid Lifshitz to me took no thought.

HOWEVER, here's the problem. It would allegely have 129 links in that
chain, meaning that MRAH was my rebbe^128. Much of those generations are
the geonim of Pumbedisa, and that's counting after Rav Mari, the last of
the savoraim before R' Chana Gaon. The problem is that I'm listing every
gaon -- 46 (36%) in that stretch of 380 or so years alone. Now that's
the successorship, and many of the geonim only led for 10 or so years.
What I could use is a rebbe-talmid chain, not the leader list.

(BTW, does anyone else find this concept as amazing as I do, to actually
track the people involved in your mesorah, no handwaving?)

RRW and the Yekkes might be happy to know that I'm a talmid^21 of the
Maharil. We're long lost brothers!

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             The mind is a wonderful organ
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