preeminent Babylonian amora, or interpreter of the Mishna, the legal compilation that was the basis of the Talmud, the authoritative rabbinical compendium.

Ashi was head of the Jewish Academy at Sura, Babylonia, and was one of two chief editors who fixed the canon of the Babylonian Talmud. Under Ashi's leadership the Academy, which had been closed since 309, was revived, and the gigantic task of collating scattered notes, sayings, legislative opinions, and homiletic lore was conducted for more than 30 years. Ashi headed the Sura Academy for more than 50 years, and he also established the nearby city of Mata Mehasya as the focus of amoraic learning. One of his sons, Tabyomi, succeeded him at the Sura Academy. After an interruption of several decades, Ashi's work was completed by a staff of scholars from the academy. Arguments have been waged as to whether the Babylonian Gemara (Talmudic commentary on the Mishna) was actually redacted by Ashi or by others.