ר' אבא סדרוניא

Rabbi Abba of Sederonia [Rabbi has stated in Parashat Yitro that "M'K" is the name of a place, and in my opinion, this is mentioned in Midrash Rabbah, Parashat Matot, regarding what is not from the wilderness of mountains. Rabbi Abba from Romaniya said that all mountains in the Scriptures are mountains, except for this one, which is not from the wilderness of mountains, as it is exaltation. And the explanation of the hands of Moshe, may his memory be blessed, from Romaniya is that the term for mountains is a language of exaltation, as it concludes that a person does not rise from these matters.

Thus, the term Romaniya is interpreted as exaltation. In my opinion, it is evident from the simple meaning that Rabbi Abba was from a place called Romaniya. And it is trustworthy that in the Yalkut on Parashat Matot and in Tehillim 85, the term Romaniya is not present, as well as in the Aruch, in the entry for "mountain," and in the Shoreshim, all mountains are peaks except for this one; thus, they also understood that it is a place name, and therefore they did not consider it necessary to copy the term Romaniya.

And in Midrash Rabbah on Kohelet, verse 6, "And the advantage of the land is in all," it is an ancient congregation of Sederonia, and in Bereshit Rabbah, chapter 1, Rabbi Abba is referred to as Sarongiya, and all is one, and there is no difference even though there is a variation. Sometimes Sederonia, sometimes Sarongiya, and sometimes Romaniya; such an error is common in Midrash and especially in the names of people and places.

Let the children of my belly rejoice if regarding the doubts, etc., for thus I have found and seen after some time in Tanchuma, Parashat Matot, Rabbi Abba said, "Sanguria, all mountains in the Scriptures, etc." And in the Yerushalmi, in the chapter of Lulav and Aravah, Rabbi Ba said Sarongiya. And in the Prague edition of Midrash Rabbah from the year 1584, Rabbi Abba is referred to as Saronania; behold, your eyes see that through Moshe it has come from the simple meaning. (See Rabbi Bibi of Marganiya)].