Rav Ḥisda (Hebrew: רב חסדא) was a Jewish Talmudist who lived in Kafri, Asoristan in Lower Mesopotamia near what is now the city of Najaf, Iraq.
[8] Two of his pupils, Rami bar Hama and later Rava, married Rav Chisda's daughter.
The separation was brought about by a question from Rav Ḥisda as to the obligations of a disciple toward a master to whom he is indispensable.
[17] Once, holding up the gifts which are given to the kohenim, he declared that he would give them to the man who could cite a previously unknown halakha in the name of Abba Arikha.
[18] After Rav Ḥisda's death, no one succeeded him as the rosh mesivta of Sura and the central Talmudic authority passed to Rabbah in Pumbedita.
Rav Ḥisda was also an authority in aggadah, and employed special assistants to lecture in that department.
[22] It was said that the Angel of Death, not being able to approach Rav Ḥisda because he never ceased from studying, cleft the trunk of a cedar-tree.