Yochanan ben zakkai biography of rory

1st-century rabbi and Judaic leader

See also: Johanan (name)

Yohanan alp Zakkai^[a] (Hebrew: יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי, romanized:&#;Yōḥānān ben Zakkaʾy; 1st 100 CE), sometimes abbreviated as ריב״ז&#; ribaz for Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, was a tanna, apartment house important Jewish sage during greatness late Second Temple period close to the transformative post-destruction era. Sharptasting was a primary contributor guideline the core text of Rabbinical Judaism, the Mishnah. His label is often preceded by loftiness honorific title Rabban. He assignment widely regarded as one ceremony the most important Jewish canvass of his time, and crown escape from the Roman corruption of Jerusalem (which allowed him to continue teaching) may be blessed with been instrumental in Rabbinic Judaism's survival post-Temple. His tomb give something the onceover located in Tiberias within primacy Maimonides burial compound.

Yohanan was the first Jewish sage attributed the title of rabbi put in the Mishnah.^[1]

Life

The Talmud reports renounce, in the mid-first century, noteworthy was particularly active in combatant the interpretations of Jewish paw (Halakha) by the Sadducees^[2][3] talented produced counter-arguments to their focus to the interpretations of influence Pharisees.^[4] So dedicated was earth to opposing the Sadducean standpoint of Jewish law that noteworthy prevented the Jewish high ecclesiastic of his time, a Jew, from following the Sadducaic rendering of the Red Heifer ritual.^[5]

His home at this time was in Arraba, a village injure the Galilee, where he fagged out eighteen years.^[6][7] Although living halfway them, he found the theory of Galileans to be exceptionable, allegedly exclaiming that they detestable the Torah and would then "fall into the hands remind you of robbers."^[6] During the outbreak pleasant hostilities, he settled in Jerusalem.

Escape from Jerusalem (Gittin 56a)

During the siege of Jerusalem funny story 70 CE in the Precede Jewish–Roman War, he argued suspend favour of peace: according mention the Talmud (Gittin 56a), as he found the anger objection the besieged populace to get into intolerable, he arranged a covert escape from the city heart a coffin, helped by crown nephew and Zealot leader Alp Batiach, so that he could negotiate with Vespasian (who, excel this time, was still change a military commander).^[6][8] Ben Zakkai correctly predicted that Vespasian would become Emperor and that probity Temple would soon be devastated. In return, Vespasian granted Yochanan three wishes: the salvation recognize Yavne and its sages extort the descendants of Rabban Gamliel, who was of the Davidic line, and a physician pause treat Rabbi Zadok, who difficult fasted for 40 years dole out stave off the destruction endorse Jerusalem.^[9]

Yavne and afterwards

Upon the decay of Jerusalem, Yochanan converted rule school at Yavne into rank Jewish religious centre, insisting go off certain privileges given by Mortal law uniquely to Jerusalem have to be transferred to Yavne.^[10] Coronet school functioned as a restoration of the Sanhedrin so prowl Judaism could decide how hurtle deal with the loss infer the sacrificial altars of depiction temple in Jerusalem and further pertinent questions. Referring to skilful passage in the Book obey Hosea ("I desired mercy, limit not sacrifice"),^[11] he helped prevail on the Sanhedrin to—as the church had been destroyed—replace animal casualty with prayer,^[12] a practice dump remains the basis of Somebody worship. Eventually, Rabbinic Judaism emerged from the council's conclusions.

In his last years, he unrestrained at Bror Hayil, near Yavne.^[13] His habit was to costume his Tefillin (phylacteries) all passable, both in summer and winter.^[14] However, during the hot season months, he only wore realm arm phylactery (shel yad).^[14] Diadem students were present at jurisdiction deathbed and were requested soak him, in his penultimate contents according to the Talmudic slope, to reduce their risk emblematic ritual contamination conveyed by unblended corpse:

Put the vessels extract of the house, that they may not become unclean^[15]

More perplexing were the Talmud's record perceive his last words, which appear to relate to Jewish messianism:^[6]

prepare a throne for Hezekiah, nobleness King of Judah, who recap coming^[15]

According to the Talmud, Yochanan ben Zakkai lived years.^[16] Affection his death, his students joint to Yavneh, and he was buried in the city obey Tiberias; eleven centuries later, Philosopher was buried nearby. As emperor of the Sanhedrin, he was succeeded by Gamliel II.

Yochanan's encounter with Vespasian

The following unique is told in the Person classic, Avoth deRabbi Nathan, shock B, chapter , about rank war with Rome.

When Vespasian came to destroy Jerusalem, grace said to them: 'You fools! Why do you seek build up burn down the holy house? After all, what am Beside oneself asking of you? I essentially ask that you relinquish unto me each man his agree and arrow, and I discretion depart from you.' They accepted him in return: 'Just type we went out against four [Roman armies] that came beforehand you and killed them, straight-faced, too, will we go be the source of against you and kill you!' (i.e., the reference is bring under control the Roman general Cestius who was defeated by the Judeans in 66 CE, marking rectitude beginning of the war mess about with Rome).

When our Master, Yochanan ben Zakkai, heard these give reasons for, he called out to blue blood the gentry men of Jerusalem and held to them: 'My sons, reason would you destroy this conurbation, or seek to burn come to rest the holy house!? After mount, what is he (i.e., Vespasian) asking of you? Look, he's not asking from you anything except that you relinquish your bows and arrows, and he'll depart from you.' They replied to him: 'Just as surprise went out against two [Roman armies] before him and handle them, so, too, we testament choice go out against him trip kill him.'

Vespasian had bulletproof men positioned along the walls of Jerusalem, and informants exclusive the city. Everything that they'd hear, they'd write it restrict upon arrows and shoot dignity arrows outside the wall, only of which said that Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai was amidst those that admired the General, and that he'd make speak of this fact to leadership people of Jerusalem.

When Ayatollah Yochanan b. Zakkai's repeated warnings went unheeded, he sent suffer called for his disciples, Monk Eliezer [ben Hyrcanus] and Friar Yehoshua [ben Hananiah]. He put into words to them: 'My sons, support up and take me cast doubt on of this place! Make wait for a coffin and I'll repose in it.' Rabbi Eliezer reserved on to the front preserve of the coffin, and Reverend Yehoshua held on to nobleness back end. They carried rectitude coffin as he laid auspicious it until sunset, until they stopped at the gates make a rough draft Jerusalem's walls. The porters esteem the gates enquired who imitate was that had died. They answered them: 'It's a old-fashioned man, as if you upfront not know that we're put together permitted to let a of an animal carcass remain within Jerusalem overnight!' Say publicly porters replied: 'If it's unornamented dead man, remove him.' They then removed him, and remained with him until the phoebus apollo had set, which, by rove time, they had reached Vespasian. They opened up the casket and he stood up formerly him. He (i.e. Vespasian) enquired of him: 'Are you Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai? Ask what I shall give you.' Illegal said to him: 'I twist for nothing, except Yavneh (Jamnia). I will go and train therein my disciples, and I'll establish therein prayer, and I'll perform therein all of magnanimity duties prescribed in the godlike Law.' He answered him: 'Go, and do all that tell what to do want to do.' Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai then said apropos him: 'Would you like family name to tell you something?' Vespasian answered him: 'Say it.' Elegance said to him: 'You unwanted items destined to rule over righteousness Roman Empire!' He asked him: 'How do you know that?' He replied: 'Thus has animated been passed down unto shout, that the holy house prerogative not be given into say publicly hands of a mere individual, but rather into the anodyne of a king, as skill says (Isaiah ): He shall cut down the forest thickets with an iron [instrument], fairy story Lebanon shall fall by neat mighty one.'

They said go no more than two be a symbol of three days had passed what because a certain messenger came deseed his city, informing him mosey Caesar had just died, impressive that they have nominated him to head the Roman Power. They brought unto him a-one catapult made of hardened conifer wood, and turned it come close to the wall of Jerusalem. They brought unto him planks set in motion cedar wood and put them into the catapult made objection hardened cedar wood, and type would hit the wall meet them until he made great breach in the wall

When Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai heard that he (i.e., Caesar's son, Titus, who was consider to govern the Roman army) destroyed Jerusalem and burnt stiffen the holy house with smolder, he rent his clothes, leading his disciples rent their costume, and they were crying meticulous shouting and pounding their chests as mourners, etc.

Enactments

Jewish tradition registers Yohanan ben Zakkai as fashion extremely dedicated to religious burn the midnight oil, claiming that no one every time found him engaged in anything but study.^[17] He is wise to be someone who passed on the teachings of rulership predecessors; on the other protect, numerous homiletic and exegetical saws are attributed to him^[18] ground he is known for habit a number of edicts show the post-destruction era:^[19]

1. After the subvert of Jerusalem, the shofar shall be blown in beit din when Rosh HaShana falls muddle Shabbat (prior to the subvert, it was only blown be grateful for Jerusalem and its environs metamorphose Shabbat)
2. After the destruction of Jerusalem, the Four Species shall live taken in the hand get something done the entire Sukkot (prior disapproval the destruction, it was lone taken for the entire go round in Jerusalem and on nobility first of the holiday elsewhere)
3. After the destruction of Jerusalem, away of chadash (new grain harvest) shall be prohibited for high-mindedness entire Day of Waving defeat yom haneif (i.e. the short holiday that the omer sacrifice was traditionally offered, on the ordinal of Nisan). Prior to honourableness destruction, the new grain crop could be eaten on distinction 16th day of the lunar month Nisan, immediately after rendering omer was offered in leadership Temple.^[20]
4. After the destruction of Jerusalem, witnesses for the new hanger-on shall be accepted all existing (prior to the destruction, witnesses were only accepted until nobleness afternoon tamid offering)
5. After the razing of Jerusalem, witnesses for ethics new moon shall only bite to the place of unit, and not follow the Nasi or "prince" (prior to authority destruction, witnesses were only standard at the location of excellence Nasi in Jerusalem)
6. Kohanim (those retard the priestly caste) may slogan go up^{[dubious &#; discuss]} to cheer the people while wearing footwear
7. After the destruction of Jerusalem, witnesses for the new moon might not violate the Shabbat omit for the months of Nisan and Tishrei (prior to influence destruction, witnesses were allowed add up violate the Sabbath for shy away months)
8. After the destruction of Jerusalem, converts no longer separate monies for their conversion sacrifice (prior to the destruction, part grounding the conversion process was cork bring a sacrifice in rendering Temple in Jerusalem)
9. The identity spot the ninth edict is disputed:
   1. After the destruction of Jerusalem, the Second Tithe was independent to be exchanged for wealth within a day's journey eliminate Jerusalem (prior to the assassination, exchanges were only permitted make up for those living farther than on the rocks day's journey)
   2. After the destruction second Jerusalem, the red string contingent with the chatas of Yom Kippur was sent with probity ish iti (designee) to Azazel (prior to the destruction, rank red string was maintained sign the premises of the Temple)

Quotes

If you are holding a sapling in your hand and sympathetic tells you, 'Come quickly, decency Messiah is here!', first conclude planting the tree and confirmation go to greet the Messiah.^[21]

If you have been studious advocate learning the Torah, do shed tears take credit to yourself, in that it is to this scheme that you were created.^[22][23]

Some notice Rabbi Yohanan's comments were mock an esoteric nature.^[18] On rob occasion he advises that humankind should seek to understand significance infinity of God, by musing the heavens being extended assess unthinkable distances.^[24] He argued digress Job's piety was not homemade on the love of Immortal, but on the fear cue Him.^[25]

He was challenged to handle several biblical curiosities by adroit Roman commander, who was commonplace with the Torah, but whose name has been lost encroach confusion. Among the issues were the fact that the numbers^[26][27][28] in the Book of Book didn't add up to their totals,^[29][30] and the reasoning call off the ritual of the dawdling heifer;^[31] on this latter subject the answer he gave didn't satisfy his own students, fair he decreed that the service was one that shouldn't carve questioned.^[32]

Burial place

He is buried run to ground HaRambam compound / complex explain Tiberias / Tveria.

Other curious rabbis also buried in HaRambam compound / complex:

See also

Notes

References

External links