Sunday, August 30, 2020
Our Famous Teachers Around the First Century BCE; The Tannaim
Nadene Goldfoot
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.
Rabbi Shammai, the opposition partner of Hillel, and they lived during the troubled times of Herod's reign (73 BCE-4 BCE). Shammai was a Jewish scholar of the 1st century, and an important figure in Judaism's core work of rabbinic literature, the Mishnah. Shammai was the most eminent contemporary of Hillel. His teachings mostly agree with those of Hillel.
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.
At the turn of the 1st century, we come into contact with Rabbi Ben Joseph Akiva who lived about from 50 to 135 CE. He was a Tanna. This was a very humble man who remained uneducated until he was 40 years old when his wife, Rachel, who was a daughter of the rich Kalba Sabbus, helped him to devote himself to learn. He studied with many of the best scholars of the period and developed his own method of biblical interpretation according to which every word and sign in the Bible has a particular significance and can be used to establish a source for accepted halakhic decisions. Rabbi Akiva was a leading contributor to the Mishnah and to Midrash halakha. He is also sometimes credited with redacting Abraham's version of the Sefer Yetzirah, one of the central texts of Jewish mysticism. He is referred to in the Talmud as Rosh la-Hakhamim "Chief of the Sages."
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 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."
Such was the man who made such an impression on his student, Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai of the 2nd century, also a Tanna, who came to create the Zohar with his colleagues and disciples. Moses de Leon was also thought to be the author of the The Zohar is their chief work of the Spanish Kabbalah, something like commentaries on sections of the Pentateuch and parts of the Hagiographa (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations). One group of writers, based in Gerona, was inspired by Isaac the Blind while the other, a more elite gathering, was led by Nachmanides and centered in Barcelona. The Kabbalah was the mystical religious stream in Judaism, originally denoting the oral tradition , but by the 12th century was adopted by mystics to denote the alleged continuity of their mystical "tradition" from early times. They discuss the mysteries of the Torah in a kabbalistic spirit. It's made up of lengthy homiletic passages, like medieval exegesis, alternating with short discourses and parables. The 2 earliest parts were composed between 1280 and 1285 in Spain, and the 3rd between 1290 and 1300 by another kabbalist who knew the Zohar and tried to imitate it. It was first printed in 1558-60 and has been reprinted about 80 times. An English translation came out in 1931-1934.
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.
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.
"Hear, my son, the instruction of your father and don't forsake the teaching of your mother (Mishlei 1:8). Get into the habit of always speaking calmly to everyone. This will prevent you from anger, a serious character flaw which causes people to sin. ... Once you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart. This radiant quality is the finest of all admirable traits ... so that you will succeed in all your ways. Thus you will succeed and merit the World to Come which lies hidden away for the righteous.
The book, Zohar, was sent by Nahmanides from Judah to Spain, where it reached the hands of Moses de Leon.
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
On that Yom Kippur day one of the greatest sages in Jewish history was taken by his Roman captors and put to a torturous death. He had been imprisoned for siding with those opposed to Roman rule. Now he was to be killed. His skin was scraped from his body with iron combs. Yet, not even the harsh Romans could sway him from his faith. As tradition relates, the words of Shema Yisrael were on Rabbi Akiva's lips as he expired.
The grave of Rabbi Akiva is on a hill in Tiberias overlooking the Kinneret. There are many Jewish laws concerning what prayer is permissible to utter at a grave. It is forbidden, for example, to pray to the deceased. There is, though, one prayer upon which all agree. We can look back at the life of Rabbi Akiva as a model and inspiration for our own lives.
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| 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."
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| 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.
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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:
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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.
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| 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.
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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.
Later, when his daughter was about to kill a small animal which was in her way, he said to her: "Let it live, for it is written: '[God's] tender mercies are over all his works'." After this demonstration of compassion, his illness ceased. Judah also once said, "One who is ignorant of the Torah should not eat meat." The prayer he prescribed upon eating meat or eggs also indicates an appreciation of animal life: "Blessed be the Lord who has created many souls, in order to support by them the soul of every living being.Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi was the editor of the in its final form. He is referred to as “Rebbi,” Teacher par excellence, and as “Rabbeinu HaKadosh,” our Holy Rabbi.
Resource: The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia
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
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
