Zeiri was a rabbi who lived in the third century (second generation of amoraim).
He was born in Babylonia, and later sojourned for a while in Alexandria, before moving to Syria Palaestina, where he became a pupil of Rabbi Johanan. During his sojourn in Alexandria he purchased a mule which, when he led it to water, was transformed into a bridge-board, the water having lifted the spell which rested on the animal. He was refunded the purchase-money, and advised to apply the water-test to everything he purchased, in order to ascertain whether it had been charmed.[1] When Rabbi Eleazar arrived in the Holy Land, he sought information from Zeiri concerning men known in ancient traditions.[2] He was praised by Rabbah as an exegete of the Mishnah.[3] He was proffered the daughter of Rabbi Johanan for a wife, but refused because he was from Babylonia, and she from the land of Israel.[4]
In the name of Hanina bar Hama, he transmitted the maxim that he who in the presence of a teacher ventures to decide a legal question, is a trespasser.[5] He also transmitted a saying by Hanina to the effect that the Messiah would not arrive until all the arrogant ones had disappeared.[6]
Several sages transmitted teachings in his name: Rav Chisda,[7] Rabbi Judah,[8] [9] Rabbi Joseph,[10] Rabbi Nachman,[8] and Rabbah.[11]