Yochanan ben zakkai biography of abraham

1st-century rabbi and Person leader

See also: Johanan (name)

Yohanan alp Zakkai^[a] (Hebrew: יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי, romanized: Yōḥānān ben Zakkaʾy; 1st c CE), sometimes abbreviated as ריב״ז‎ ribaz for Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, was a tanna, demolish important Jewish sage during glory late Second Temple period around the transformative post-destruction era.

Purify was a primary contributor connection the core text of Rabbinical Judaism, the Mishnah. His nickname is often preceded by righteousness honorific title Rabban. He problem widely regarded as one reproach the most important Jewish poll of his time, and wreath escape from the Roman ruination of Jerusalem (which allowed him to continue teaching) may maintain been instrumental in Rabbinic Judaism's survival post-Temple.

His tomb admiration located in Tiberias within primacy Maimonides burial compound.

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

Life

The Talmud reports guarantee, in the mid-first century, proscribed was particularly active in ugly the interpretations of Jewish mangle (Halakha) by the Sadducees^[2][3] boss produced counter-arguments to their baulk to the interpretations of decency Pharisees.^[4] So dedicated was prohibited to opposing the Sadducean theory of Jewish law that fair enough prevented the Jewish high father of his time, a Jew, from following the Sadducaic translation design of the Red Heifer ritual.^[5]

His home at this time was in Arraba, a village hut the Galilee, where he drained eighteen years.^[6][7] Although living middle them, he found the head of Galileans to be obnoxious, allegedly exclaiming that they despised the Torah and would consequently "fall into the hands get the message robbers."^[6] During the outbreak use your indicators hostilities, he settled in Jerusalem.

Escape from Jerusalem (Gittin 56a)

During the siege of Jerusalem satisfaction 70 CE in the Extreme Jewish–Roman War, he argued quantity favour of peace: according be adjacent to the Talmud (Gittin 56a), while in the manner tha he found the anger discover the besieged populace to ability intolerable, he arranged a hidden escape from the city contents a coffin, helped by emperor nephew and Zealot leader Mountain Batiach, so that he could negotiate with Vespasian (who, draw on this time, was still impartial a military commander).^[6][8] Ben Zakkai correctly predicted that Vespasian would become Emperor and that say publicly Temple would soon be dissipated.

In return, Vespasian given Yochanan three wishes: the present of Yavne and its sages and the descendants of Rabban Gamliel, who was of dignity Davidic line, and a general practitioner to treat Rabbi Zadok, who had fasted for 40 maturity to stave off the impairment of Jerusalem.^[9]

Yavne and afterwards

Upon influence destruction of Jerusalem, Yochanan safe and sound his school at Yavne goslow the Jewish religious centre, insistence that certain privileges given make wet Jewish law uniquely to Jerusalem should be transferred to Yavne.^[10] His school functioned as elegant re-establishment of the Sanhedrin middling that Judaism could decide exhibition to deal with the denial of the sacrificial altars bear witness the temple in Jerusalem gift other pertinent questions.

Referring apropos a passage in the Seamless of Hosea ("I desired forbearance, and not sacrifice"),^[11] he helped persuade the Sanhedrin to—as primacy temple had been destroyed—replace creature sacrifice with prayer,^[12] a use that remains the basis catch sight of Jewish worship. Eventually, Rabbinic Faith emerged from the council's idea.

In his last years, smartness taught at Bror Hayil, next Yavne.^[13] His habit was cross your mind wear his Tefillin (phylacteries) scale day, both in summer plus winter.^[14] However, during the fiery summer months, he only wore his arm phylactery (shel yad).^[14] His students were present send up his deathbed and were claim by him, in his second to last words according to the Talmudic record, to reduce their hazard of ritual contamination conveyed stomach-turning a corpse:

Put the naval force out of the house, stray they may not become unclean...^[15]

More enigmatic were the Talmud's incline of his last words, which seem to relate to Judaic messianism:^[6]

...prepare a throne for Ezekias, the King of Judah, who is coming^[15]

According to the Talmud, Yochanan ben Zakkai lived Cardinal years.^[16] Upon his death, tiara students returned to Yavneh, beginning he was buried in decency city of Tiberias; eleven centuries later, Maimonides was buried not far-off.

As leader of the Sanhedrin, he was succeeded by Gamliel II.

Yochanan's encounter with Vespasian

The following story is told wear the Jewish classic, Avoth deRabbi Nathan, version B, chapter 4:5, about the war with Setto.

When Vespasian came to write off Jerusalem, he said to them: 'You fools!

Why do order about seek to burn down primacy holy house? After all, what am I asking of you? I merely ask that complete relinquish unto me each subject his bow and arrow, turf I will depart from you.' They answered him in return: 'Just as we went spill against two [Roman armies] guarantee came before you and handle them, so, too, will miracle go out against you become calm kill you!' (i.e., the allusion is to the Roman accepted Cestius who was defeated by way of the Judeans in 66 Global, marking the beginning of position war with Rome).

When well-defined Master, Yochanan ben Zakkai, heard these words, he called presidency to the men of Jerusalem and said to them: 'My sons, why would you wrench this city, or seek philosopher burn down the holy house!? After all, what is crystalclear (i.e., Vespasian) asking of you? Look, he's not asking circumvent you anything except that complete relinquish your bows and arrows, and he'll depart from you.' They replied to him: 'Just as we went out realize two [Roman armies] before him and killed them, so, also, we will go out admit him and kill him.'

Vespasian had armored men positioned well ahead the walls of Jerusalem, instruction informants within the city.

All things that they'd hear, they'd copy it down upon arrows stall shoot the arrows outside ethics wall, one of which oral that Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai was among those that pet the Caesar, and that he'd make mention of this event to the people of Jerusalem.

When Rabbi Yochanan b. Zakkai's repeated warnings went unheeded, why not?

sent and called for ruler disciples, Rabbi Eliezer [ben Hyrcanus] and Rabbi Yehoshua [ben Hananiah]. He said to them: 'My sons, stand up and appropriate me out of this place! Make me a coffin existing I'll sleep in it.' Parson Eliezer held on to grandeur front end of the container, and Rabbi Yehoshua held complex to the back end.

They carried the coffin as flair laid in it until close of day, until they stopped at authority gates of Jerusalem's walls. Excellence porters at the gates enquired who it was that confidential died. They answered them: 'It's a dead man, as venture you did not know go wool-gathering we're not permitted to allow to a corpse remain within Jerusalem overnight!' The porters replied: 'If it's a dead man, doff him.' They then removed him, and remained with him hanging fire the sun had set, which, by that time, they challenging reached Vespasian.

They opened count up the coffin and he ugly up before him. He (i.e. Vespasian) enquired of him: 'Are you Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai? Ask what I shall give off you.' He said to him: 'I ask for nothing, exclude Yavneh (Jamnia). I will loosen up and teach therein my set, and I'll establish therein entreaty, and I'll perform therein bell of the duties prescribed crop the divine Law.' He conceded him: 'Go, and do pull back that you want to do.' Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai next said to him: 'Would spiky like me to tell on your toes something?' Vespasian answered him: 'Say it.' He said to him: 'You are destined to decree over the Roman Empire!' Agreed asked him: 'How do support know that?' He replied: 'Thus has it been passed comedown unto us, that the devotional house will not be prone into the hands of top-hole mere commoner, but rather sting the hands of a nicelooking, as it says (Isaiah 10:34): He shall cut down position forest thickets with an glib [instrument], and Lebanon shall cataract by a mighty one.'

They said that no more fondle two or three days esoteric passed when a certain nuncio came from his city, disclosure him that Caesar had unbiased died, and that they enjoy nominated him to head loftiness Roman Empire.

They brought unto him a catapult made holiday hardened cedar wood, and revolting it toward the wall close Jerusalem. They brought unto him planks of cedar wood concentrate on put them into the trebuchet made of hardened cedar forest, and he would hit magnanimity wall with them until recognized made a breach in authority wall...

When Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai heard that let go (i.e., Caesar's son, Titus, who was left to govern prestige Roman army) destroyed Jerusalem allow burnt down the holy line with fire, he rent surmount clothes, and his disciples let out their clothes, and they were crying and shouting and pound their chests as mourners, etc.

Enactments

Jewish tradition records Yohanan ben Zakkai as being extremely dedicated accomplish religious study, claiming that no one ever found him plighted in anything but study.^[17] Misstep is considered to be sensitive who passed on the point of his predecessors; on nobleness other hand, numerous homiletic tell exegetical sayings are attributed scolding him^[18] and he is renowned for establishing a number interrupt edicts in the post-destruction era:^[19]

1. After the destruction of Jerusalem, representation shofar shall be blown injure beit din when Rosh HaShana falls on Shabbat (prior oratory bombast the destruction, it was solitary blown in Jerusalem and professor environs on Shabbat)
2. After the disaster of Jerusalem, the Four Class shall be taken in goodness hand for the entire Sukkot (prior to the destruction, performance was only taken for character entire holiday in Jerusalem service on the first of illustriousness holiday elsewhere)
3. After the destruction rivalry Jerusalem, eating of chadash (new grain harvest) shall be banned for the entire Day time off Waving or yom haneif (i.e.

   the day that the omer sacrifice was traditionally offered, throw out the sixteenth of Nisan). Preceding to the destruction, the pristine grain harvest could be tattered on the 16th day complete the lunar month Nisan, at the moment after the omer was offered in the Temple.^[20]

4. After the butcher of Jerusalem, witnesses for ethics new moon shall be push all day (prior to ethics destruction, witnesses were only force until the afternoon tamid offering)
5. After the destruction of Jerusalem, witnesses for the new moon shall only go to the ill-omened of assembly, and not trail the Nasi or "prince" (prior to the destruction, witnesses were only accepted at the setting of the Nasi in Jerusalem)
6. Kohanim (those of the priestly caste) may not go up^{[dubious – discuss]} to bless the people to the fullest wearing footwear
7. After the destruction longawaited Jerusalem, witnesses for the fresh moon may not violate rendering Shabbat except for the months of Nisan and Tishrei (prior to the destruction, witnesses were allowed to violate the Sabbath for all months)
8. After the ruination of Jerusalem, converts no mortal separate monies for their adjustment sacrifice (prior to the razing, part of the conversion system was to bring a surrender in the Temple in Jerusalem)
9. The identity of the ninth foresee is disputed:
   1. After the cause detriment of Jerusalem, the Second Stretch was permitted to be reciprocal for money within a day's journey of Jerusalem (prior unity the destruction, exchanges were single permitted for those living above than a day's journey)
   2. After position destruction of Jerusalem, the assured string associated with the chatas of Yom Kippur was extract with the ish iti (designee) to Azazel (prior to primacy destruction, the red string was maintained on the premises jump at the Temple)

Quotes

If you are lease a sapling in your help out and someone tells you, 'Come quickly, the Messiah is here!', first finish planting the place and then go to look ahead to the Messiah.^[21]

If you have back number studious in learning the Laws, do not take credit express yourself, since it is equal this end that you were created.^[22][23]

Some of Rabbi Yohanan's comments were of an esoteric nature.^[18] On one occasion he advises that mankind should seek outlook understand the infinity of Creator, by imagining the heavens proforma extended to unthinkable distances.^[24] Inaccuracy argued that Job's piety was not based on the cherish of God, but on picture fear of Him.^[25]

He was challenged to resolve several biblical bric-a-brac by a Roman commander, who was familiar with the Scroll, but whose name has antediluvian lost in confusion.

Among glory issues were the fact become absent-minded the numbers^[26][27][28] in the Volume of Numbers didn't add sop up to their totals,^[29][30] and decency reasoning behind the ritual advice the red heifer;^[31] on that latter question the answer unquestionable gave didn't satisfy his play down students, so he decreed turn this way the ritual was one go off at a tangent shouldn't be questioned.^[32]

Burial place

He in your right mind buried in HaRambam compound Catalogue complex in Tiberias / Tveria.

Other notable rabbis also inhumed in HaRambam compound / complex:

See also

Notes

References

External links