Sunday, August 30, 2020
Our Famous Teachers Around the First Century BCE; The Tannaim
Rabbi Hillel, the Elder, was a first century BCE scholar who founded the school known as THE HOUSE OF HILLEL or Bet Hillel, and he became an ancestor of a dynasty of patriarchs who held office until the 5th century. Hillel was a scholar associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud. He was born in Babylonia but settled in Judah and earned a slender living by doing manual labor while studying with 2 of the most famous teachers, Shemaiah and Avtalyon. He became president of the Sanhedrin and with his opponent, Shammai, who were the last of the pairs (Zugot) of scholars. He was noted for his humility and leniency in the law. Legal practice ultimately went in almost all cases according to the decision of he House of Hillel. He is known for the Golden Rule: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn." Hillel is remembered by college students with their Hillel House Fraternity on college campuses, and in many other ways as well.
![]() |
What would Shammai say? |
He foresaw the dangers of Roman hegemony and so enacted many rules intended to keep Jews from mixing with the heathen. Shammai took a rigorous point of view in moral and religious matters, and at the same time being of a friendly nature, taught to "receive everyone graciously". His motto was: "Make your study of the Torah a permanent endeavour; speak little, but accomplish much; and receive every man with a cheerful disposition". He was modest even toward his pupils. Although the School of Shammai is famous for its disputes with the School of Hillel, Shammai himself differed on only 3 points with Hillel. Very few halakhic teachings have survived in his name. Shammai is possibly identical with the Pharisee, Sameas, who rallied the Sanhedrin against Herod's attempt at intimidation in 47 BCE.
![]() |
Born 50 CE , Caesarea, Israel; Died 135 CE Caesarea, Israel |
Akiva became noted as the greatest scholar of his time and thousands of students studied at his school in Bene Berak in Jerusalem. His interest in mystical speculation is reflected in that he was only one of 4 rabbis who studied this and remained unscathed, becoming a Tanna. A tanna was a teacher living during the 1st 2 centuries CE. The Tannaitic Period began with the death of Hillel and Shammai and ends with the generation after Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi.
An outbreak of plague among the pupils of Rabbi Akiva in the 2nd century ended on Iyyar 18. This happened this year on the 12th of May. Next year it falls on the 30th of April. It is hence considered the "scholars' feast," the Omer period's regulations for half-mourning which has the prohibitions of marriage, cutting the hair, etc) being suspended. Schoolchildren are given a holiday and formerly used to have mock-battles with bow and arrows.
Rome came out with an edict saying it was prohibited to study the Law of Moses, and Akiva ignored it. The result was that he was arrested as a rebel and had to serve a long prison sentence before being executed at Caesarea. No rabbi of the talmudic period made a more profound impression on Jewish history and on the imagination of the Jewish people.
![]() |
Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi Born 135 CE Judea, Died 217 CE Sepphoris in GalileeSepphoris or Zippori, in the past called Diocaesaraea and, during the Crusades, le Saforie, is a former village and an archaeological site located in the central Galilee region of Israel, 6 kilometers north-northwest of Nazareth. It lies 286 meters above sea level and overlooks the Beit Netofa Valley. Buried: Bet She'arim National Park, Kiryat Tiv'on, Israel |
Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi or Judah I or Judah, the Prince, was a second-century rabbi and chief redactor and editor of the Mishnah. He lived from approximately 135 to 217 CE. He was a key leader of the Jewish community during the Roman occupation of Judea. He was one of Bar Kokhba's supporters and said he was the King-messiah. General Bar Kokhba fought a 3 year war with Rome after he took over Jerusalem in 132 CE. He was killed in 135 CE.
During a famine, Judah opened his granaries and distributed corn among the needy. But he denied himself the pleasures procurable by wealth, saying: "Whoever chooses the delights of this world will be deprived of the delights of the next world; whoever renounces the former will receive the latter."
![]() |
Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai Born in the Galilee of Judah |
Akiva's pupil, Simeon Bar Yochai, even followed Akiva after Akiva's imprisonment by the Romans. He was expressing opinions which the authorities thought were rebellious and was forced to go into hiding in a cave with his son, Eleazar for 13 years!
He was unworldy, teaching that Torah study should take precedence over the pursuit of a livelihood; even regarding a man who paused in his study to admire nature as deserving death. My comment is that this was going way too far. Today we know that this is not healthy, mentally or physically.
Simeon became a noted miracle-worker. In later life, he was sent on a mission to Rome where he succeeded in obtaining the withdrawal of a persecutory decree.
While he is attributed authorship of the Zohar by many kabbalists, the authenticity of this claim has been challenged by both secular and religious scholars. who point to Moses de León as the author who published the Zohar in the 13th century.
![]() |
The Tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron is one of the most famous tombs of a sage in Israel. It is the second
largest religious site (following the Kotel or Western Wall) in Israel.
Kabbalists have made Simeon ben Yohai's traditional tomb at
Mt Meron a center of pilgrimage, especially on LAG BA-OMER (Iyyar 18) , the traditional date of his death.
In Israel, the day is marked by lighting of bonfires and a mass pilgrimage to the tomb of Meron of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai, who is said to have died, transmitting his mystical lore, on this day.
He is often quoted, as follows:
|
Rabbi Moses de Leon (1250-1305) was a contributor to the Spanish Kabbalah later. He lived in Guadalajara until moving to Avila in 1290, and wrote some 20 kabbalistic works of which only 2 have been printed. His chief fame lied in his revelation of the Zohar, attributed to Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai.
![]() |
Rabbi Moses ben Nahman, commonly known as Nachmanides, and also referred to by the acronym Ramban and by the contemporary nickname Bonastruc ça Porta, was a leading medieval Jewish scholar, Sephardic rabbi, philosopher, physician, kabbalist, and biblical commentator. He was born in 1194, Girona, Spain and died on April 4, 1270, Acre, Israel. Ramban (Moshe ben Nahman Gerondi, was a Catalan rabbi, philosopher, physician, Kabbalist and biblical commentator. He is often called "Nachmanides", a Greek translation of the Hebrew "Ben Nahman", meaning "Son of Nahman". |
Rambam reached the peak of his professional reputation as a doctor when he was appointed to the staff of the court of Saladin as royal physician. He was charged with personally supervising the health of the Grand Vizier Alfadhel, as well as members of the royal family.
|
He had an intense love for the Holy Land and considered emigration from there a grievous sin. His pupil, Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi, frequently quoted him in the Mishnah .
It is said that once Rabbi Judah Ha Nasi saw a calf being led to the slaughtering-block, which looked at him with tearful eyes, as if seeking protection. He said to it: "Go; for you were created for this purpose!" Due to this unkind attitude toward the suffering animal, he was punished with years of illness.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/kabbalah-in-spain/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbi_Akiva
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_bar_Yochai
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/moses-de-le-oacute-n
http://www.jewishmag.com/107mag/rabbiakiva/rabbiakiva.htm
Labels: Ben Joseph Akiva, Hillel, Judah ha-Nasi, kabbala., Moses de Leon, Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai, Ramban, Shammai, Simeon ben Yohai
Saturday, August 29, 2020
Part III: Genealogy of Moses
Moses (1391-1271 BCE) was from the tribe of Levi, and from what I have found, Levi was the grandfather of Moses. The father of Moses was Amram. Jochebed was Levi's daughter from Milkah, and it is through this, his mother, that he is related to the Levites as well as through Amram, also a Levite. Amram's father was Kohath, also a son of Levi. Jochebed was Amram's aunt. (Scene from 10 Commandments, a must to see about the Exodus with Charleston Heston as Moses).
Moses was born at a time of the Pharaoh's (Ramses, the Great?-played by Yul Brynner) fear of being overrun by the nomadic Israelites who had entered Egypt and had multiplied quickly like the sheep they brought with them. By the time that Moses was born, his people had already been enslaved and were no longer shepherds. He put out the edict to kill all male babies born to this clan. This tells me that there was something to distinguish between the Israelite and the Egyptian; like the language. Was there skin coloring? His mother, Jochebed, hid him among the reeds of the Nile River in a water-proof basket.
The Pharaoh's daughter found him there, and rescued him, making him her son.
His wet-nurse was his very own mother, as his sister, Mirium, had been watching to see what happened to him and brought her to the princess. He grew up in this greatest of all royal courts, studying all that the other princes studied; reading, writing, geography, religion, history.
![]() |
Moses in the royal court, now a man. |
One day he saw an over-seer beating an Israelite almost to death and he felt this was wrong, stopped him and accidently killed the overseer, a known to be punishment, even in Egypt. Moses ran away, not knowing what else to do.
He fled to Midian, home of a Bedouin tribe, relatives of Abraham. Their job was to travel in caravans of incense from Gilead to Egypt and later to other countries. Gilead, (see below) was on the eastern side of the Jordan River (Transjordania, settled by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and part of Manasseh. It was part of the northern kingdom of Israel after the Exodus and would be captured in 732 BCE by the Assyrians. They were a people closely connected with the Israelites.
There, Moses married the oldest daughter of Jethro, a priest of the Midianites, his beautiful Zipporah. He had 2 sons, Gershom and Eliazer.
It is uncertain which deities the Midianites worshipped. Through their apparent religio-political connection with the Moabites they are thought to have worshipped a multitude, including Baal-peor and the Queen of Heaven, Ashteroth.
Here, Moses tended the flocks of Jethro. The Druze of today honor Jethro as Nebi Shu'aib at the shrine near Kephar Hittin. In 2 places, Jetho is called Reuel, which may have been his personal name and Jethro would have been a sobriquet. Jethro's son was Hobab who went with Moses on the Exodus later to Canaan and whose family eventually settled in Galilee. Jael (12th century BCE) was the wife of Heber the Kenite; was descended from Hobab. She's the one who killed Sisera when he was looking for refuge from her people. She killed him as he slept. He was of the forces of Jabin of Hazor and were defeated by the Israelites, and was their commander.
History is that the princes of Midian cooperated with Moab against Israel, and at an even later period, conducted a plundering expedition against the Valley of Jezreel which was repulsed by Gideon. They lived near the Moabites and Edomites. From 2nd Temple times, the Land of Midian was thought to be located in NW Arabia. According to the Book of Judges, the Israelite chieftain, Gideon (12th century BCE) judge of Israel for 40 years, of tribe of Manasseh, defeated Midianites near Harod using a group of selected volunteers; offered the kingship but refused on the principle that G-d is king of Israel; drove the Midianites into western Eretz Yisrael, after which they largely disappeared from the biblical narrative.
Moses saw a burning bush and there received the Divine command to return to Egypt and lead out his people from such repression and slavery. Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to
Horeb, also called (Sinai) the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.
Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
It's possible that Moses was looking at the bush facing West, and that the sun was in his eyes. It would have made the bush look like it was on fire.
Today's population is also wondering about what caused this phenomena. One answered with a type of bush.
"Bushes growing in that same area are: It is apparently a rare, extremely long-lived species of bramble, Rubus sanctus, that is native to the area. In Latin, "sanctus" means "holy" (no doubt in reference to the Biblical event). The original bush has reportedly died, but a claimed descendant is still living and on display today. Although the bush may be in the same area as the original burning bush, one plant that is actually capable of burning without being harmed is called (of course) the Burning Bush or the Gasplant (Dictamnus albus). These plants are herbaceous and produce beautiful

The Pharaoh needed the 10 plagues to happen before he allowed the 600 Israelites to leave.
They crossed the Red Sea with the Egyptian army chasing after them.
The Pharaoh sent his army after them, but they all drowned in the sea.
Mt Horab-Sinai, where Moses received the 10 Commandments
Before he died, he appointed Joshua to take his place, spoke to the people and summarized their journey together the past 40 years, blessed them all, told them what to do in Canaan and died at age 120. Aaron would outlive him by 4 years, dying at 124. He had been a prophetic lawgiver, and had given them the basis of monotheism and loyalty to one G-d, the Creator and Father of all. Israel was deemed a holy nation and a model for other people. Moses had given his people the Torah (5 books of Moses).
Joshua led the 600,000 into Canaan.
First called Hoshea, he was commander during battles, like with the Amalekites, our most hated enemy. Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim and was among the 12 spies sent to reconnoiter the land of Canaan. He and Caleb brought back encouraging reports to Moses, but the other 10 did not. He and his young men had to conquer Canaan in order to enter. So Joshua crossed the Jordan and had to fight against 2 kings. Joshua died at age 110 and is buried in the mountains of Ephraim.
1 Levi , son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham
.. +Milkah
. 2 [3] Jochebed daughter of Levi
..... +[2] Amram, son of Kohath, son of Levi
..... 3 [4] Mirium, daughter of Amram
..... 3 [5] Aaron, son of Amram b: in Egypt c1395 BCE d: in Mt. Hor, (Hor Hahar) border of Edom
......... +[6] Elisheba
......... 4 [7] Nadab
......... 4 [8] Abihu
......... 4 [9] Eleazar ben Kohen
............. +[10] Daughter of Putiel
............. 5 [11] Jehoiarib
............. 5 [12] Harim
............. 5 [13] Malchijah
............. 5 [14] Hakkoz
............. 5 [15] Jeshua
............. 5 [16] Eliashib
............. 5 [17] Huppah
............. 5 [18] Bilgah
............. 5 [19] Hezir
............. 5 [20] Hapizzez
............. 5 [21] Pethahiah
............. 5 [22] Jehezkel
............. 5 [23] Jachin
............. 5 [24] Gamul
............. 5 [25] Delaiah
............. 5 [26] Maaziah
............. 5 [27] Phineas
............. 5 [28] Pinchus
......... 4 [29] Ithamar Issamar ben Kohen
............. 5 [30] Jedaiah
............. 5 [31] Seorim
............. 5 [32] Mijamin
............. 5 [33] Abijah
............. 5 [34] Shecaniah
............. 5 [35] Jakim
............. 5 [36] Jeshabeab
............. 5 [37] Immer
..... 3 [38] MOSES b: in Egypt 1391 BCE d: in Canaan, outside-1271 BCE
......... +[39] Zipporah
......... 4 [40] Gershom
............. 5 [41] Chief Shebuel
......... 4 [42] Eliezer
............. 5 [43] Chief Rehabiah
................. 6 [1] high priest Zadok
............. 5 [44] Phineas Rehabiah
................. 6 [1] high priest Zadok
. 2 Gershon
..... 3 Livni Laadan
......... 4 Chief Jehiel
......... 4 Zetham
......... 4 Joel
..... 3 Shimei
......... 4 Shelomith
......... 4 Haziel
......... 4 Haran
. 2 Kohath
..... 3 [2] Amram
......... +[3] Jochebed
......... 4 [4] daughter of Amram Mirium
......... 4 [5] son of Amram Aaron b: in Egypt c1395 BCE d: in Mt. Hor, (Hor Hahar) border of Edom
...
Labels: Gad, Gilead, incense, Jethro, Joshua, Manasseh, Midian, Moses, Reuben, Transjordan, Zipporah