"Rabbi Kahana of Pum-Nahara"; appearing in the Talmud merely as Rav Kahana) was a Babylonian rabbi, of the third and fourth generation of amoraim, who headed the Yeshiva of Pum-Nahara.During his youth he studied under Judah ben Ezekiel,[1] and after his death, he served at Rabbah bar Nahmani as well, and learned under him tractate Sanhedrin along with his great friend Rav Safra.
[4] He also studied under Rabbi Hiyya bar Abba, who also prayed for his longevity, and indeed his blessing materialized.
[5] After a while he returned to Babylonia, and then fixed his residence at Pum-Nahara,[6] where he studied with Rav Ashi, who became his leading student.
Ashi honored Kahana greatly, but considered Amemar to be his principal Rabbi as well.
He was a colleague of Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak, and together they rebuked the rich individuals who interfered with the appointment of religious judges and community leaders.