רבי נחוניא דמן חוורן

Rav Nechunya of Chavran was among the earliest of the amoraim of Eretz Yisrael; because he belonged to the generation that bridged the tannaim and the amoraim, there are those who count him among the tannaim. His father was Rav Uziel, and his son too was called Rav Uziel, apparently after his grandfather. He received his Torah from Rav Shimon ben Chalafta and appears to have been his talmid. He lived in the valley of Beit Chortan, or on Har Chavran, in the region of Chavran.

The first and second generations of the amoraim of Eretz Yisrael bring halachot and teachings in his name, among them Rav Yochanan, Rav Yehoshua ben Levi and Rav Abba bar Zavda. Best known among them is his teaching that the law of the ten saplings, the mitzvah of aravah and the nisuch hamayim are each a halachah l’Moshe miSinai. According to some versions in the Yerushalmi he took part in intercalating the year, and when he would go down to do so the sea would split before him; it is further said there that on the day of his passing the sea of Teveria split.

He held like Rav Yehudah, who permits the aftergrowths of mustard in shevi’it. The Yerushalmi relates that this ruling, standing against the view of Rav Yochanan, moved Rav Yochanan to leave the city of Tzippori and settle in Teveria, saying: why have you brought upon me this elder judge, who forbids what I permit and permits what I forbid. In the Bavli he is called Rav Nechunya of the valley of Beit Chortan, and in the Yerushalmi Rav Chunya d’Vrat Chavrin or Rav Chunya d’man Chavrin.