Jastrow: רַבָּן

רַבָּן m. (v. רַב II) 1) chief, teacher. Sabb. 33ᵇ, a. fr. תינוקות של בית ר׳ school children. —2) Rabban, a title of scholars. Tosef. Eduy. III, 4 [read.] מי שיש לו תלמידים ותלמידי תלמידיו קוראין אותו רבי נשתכחו תלמידיו קוראין אותו ר׳ וכ׳ if a scholar has disciples and disciples of his disciples, he is quoted (by the latter) as Rabbi; if his direct disciples are forgotten (in tradition), he is quoted as Rabban; if both are forgotten, he is quoted by his name.—Esp. Rabban, title of most of the presidents of Palestinian colleges that succeeded Hillel. Ab. I, 16. Ib. 18. Ib. II, 8; a. fr. (v., respective proper names).—Pl. רַבָּנִים, רַבָּנִין. Cant. R. to I, 10 נאוו … אלו הר׳ וכ׳ ‘comely are thy cheeks’ &c. (ib.), this refers to the teachers, ‘thy neck with strings’, refers to the students &c. (v. חָרַז); Yalk. ib. 983; a. e.—[Gen. R. s. 61 כמין שני רבנים, v. כַּד II.]