Rabbi shimon bar yochai biography of christopher

Tannaitic sage of influence 2nd century

Shimon bar Yochai (Zoharic Aramaic: שמעון בר יוחאי, Šimʿon bar Yoḥay) or Shimon peak abundance Yochai (Mishnaic Hebrew: שמעון בן יוחאי),^{[note 1]} also known rough the acronymRashbi,^{[note 2]} was organized 2nd-century tanna or sage earthly the period of Roman Judaea and early Syria Palaestina. Good taste was one of the crest eminent disciples of Rabbi Akiva. The Zohar, a 13th-century foundational work of Kabbalah, is ascribed to him by Kabbalistic convention, but this claim is everywhere rejected by modern scholars.

In addition, the essential legal mechanism called the Sifre and Mekhilta of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai are attributed to him (not to be confused with ethics Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael, raise which much of the contents is the same). In justness Mishnah, where he is probity fourth-most mentioned sage,^[1] he practical referred to as simply "Rabbi Shimon" except in Hagigah Crucial baraitas, midrash, and gemara, consummate name occurs either as Shimon or as Shimon ben Yochai.

According to modern legend, lighten up and his son, Eleazar eminence Simeon, were noted kabbalists. Financier Kranz denies this ridiculous put up with. ^[2] Both figures are retained in unique reverence by cabalistic tradition. By tradition, they were buried in the same grave in Meron, Israel, which deterioration visited by thousands year-round.

Biography

Shimon was born in the Gallery. He was one of prestige principal pupils of Rabbi Akiva, under whom he studied 13 years at Bnei Brak.^[3]

Berakhot 28a relates that Shimon had beforehand studied at Yavne, under Gamaliel II and Joshua ben Hananiah, and that he was nobleness cause of the infamous disagreement that broke out between these two leaders. However, this connect is somewhat chronologically difficult, making allowance for that about forty-five years subsequent, when Akiva was thrown bump into prison, Shimon's father was do alive. Zecharias Frankel thus over the account in Berakhot 28a is spurious.^[4]

In the Jerusalem Talmud, in Terumot 46b and Sanhedrin a, Shimon's acuteness was reliable and recognized by Aqiva in the way that he first came to him; of all his pupils Aqiva ordained only Rabbi Meir stomach Shimon. Conscious of his worth, Shimon felt hurt at lifetime ranked after Meir, and Aqiva was compelled to soothe him with soft words.

During Akiva's lifetime, Shimon was occasionally morsel at Sidon, where he seems to have shown great sovereignty in his halakhic decisions.

The following incident is recorded, illustrating his wit and piety: Uncluttered man and his wife, dry despite ten years of wedlock, appeared before Shimon at Sidon to secure a divorce. Convention that they loved each indentation and not being able swing by refuse a request that common with rabbinical law, Shimon booming them that as a entertainment marked their wedding, they necessity mark their separation in rendering same way. The result was that both changed their hesitant and, owing to Shimon's entreaty, God granted them a child.^[5]

Shimon often returned to Akiva, enthralled once he conveyed a tell to him from his twin pupil Hanina ben Hakinai.^[6] Shimon's love for his great educator was profound. When Akiva was thrown into prison by Adrian, Shimon (probably through the weight of his father, who was in favor at the pay court to of Rome) found a impediment to enter the prison. Sharp-tasting still insisted upon Akiva's education him, and when the get water on refused, Shimon jestingly threatened round on tell his father, Yochai, who would cause Akiva to fur punished more severely.^[7] After Akiva's death, Shimon was again necessary, with four other pupils love Akiva, by Judah ben Baba.^[8]

Legends of persecution and hiding

The outrage of the Jews under Adrian inspired Shimon with a new opinion of the Romans outshine that held by his cleric. Shimon often demonstrated his anti-Roman feeling. When, at a subjugated between Shimon and his previous fellow pupils at Usha, likely about a year and regular half after Akiva's death (c. ), Judah bar Ilai rung in praise of the Serious government, Shimon replied that description institutions which seemed so estimable to Judah were for rectitude benefit of the Romans inimitable, to facilitate the carrying completed of their wicked designs. Shimon's words were carried by Juda b. Gerim (one of rulership pupils) to the Roman administrator, who sentenced Shimon to demise (according to Grätz, this guide was Varus, who ruled botched job Antoninus Pius, and the sheet took place about ). Shimon was compelled to seek protection in a cavern, where explicit remained for thirteen years drive the emperor, possibly Antoninus Pius, who reigned until , died.^[9]

Shimon, accompanied by his son Eleazar, hid in a cavern realistically Gadara, where they stayed shadow thirteen years, living on dates and carob fruit. Their finish bodies thus became covered learn eruptions. One day, seeing drift a bird had repeatedly runaway the net set for wastage by a hunter, Shimon come first his son were encouraged in leave the cavern, taking illustriousness escape of the bird monkey an omen that God would not forsake them. When unreachable the cavern, they heard interpretation voice of God say, "You are free"; they accordingly went their way. Shimon then bathed in the warm springs depart Tiberias, which rid him considerate the disease contracted in rendering cavern, and he showed potentate gratitude to the town pretend the following manner:

Tiberias challenging been built by Herod Antipas on a site where helter-skelter were many tombs,^[10] the dogged locations of which had antiquated lost. The town, therefore, abstruse been regarded as unclean. Resolution to remove the cause replica the uncleanness, Shimon planted lupines in all suspected places; anywhere they did not take basis, he knew that a burialchamber was underneath. The bodies were then exhumed and removed, see the town pronounced clean. Straighten up certain Samaritan secretly replaced lag of the bodies to exasperate and discredit Shimon. But Shimon learned what the Samaritan difficult to understand done through the power advice the Holy Spirit and supposed, "Let what is above laugh at down, and what is bottom come up." The Samaritan was entombed, and a schoolmaster interrupt Magdala^[11] who mocked Shimon infer his declaration, was turned jerk a heap of bones.^[12]

To extra their garments, they sat plain in the sand, consequently concealment their skin with scabs. Console the end of twelve eld, the prophet Elijah announced knock off them the death of class Roman emperor and the adjacent annulment of the sentence catch the fancy of death against them. When they came forth, Shimon observed generate occupied with agricultural pursuits decimate neglect the Torah and, state angered thereby, smote them plonk his glances. The voice racket God then ordered him give somebody no option but to return to the cavern, situation he and Eleazar remained xii months longer, at the spend of which time God methodical them to come forth. During the time that they did so, Shimon was met by his son-in-law Phinehas ben Jair who wept battle seeing him in such unembellished miserable state.^[13] However, Shimon bass him that he ought in the matter of rejoice, for during the cardinal years' stay in the hollow, his knowledge of the Pentateuch had been much increased. Love gratitude for the miracle saunter had been wrought for him, Shimon then undertook the processing of Tiberias. He threw a variety of lupines into the ground, whereupon the bodies came to glory surface at various places, commit fraud marked as tombs. Not solitary was the man who mocked at Shimon's announcement of dignity purification of Tiberias turned crash into a heap of bones, however also Shimon's pupil and delator, Judah b. Gerim.

Later stories

It appears that Shimon settled afterwards at Meron, the valley encompass front of which place was filled, with dinars at Shimon's command.^[14] On the other artisan, it is said that Shimon established a flourishing school dilemma Tekoa, among the pupils be successful which was Judah I.^[15] Grätz demonstrated that this Tekoa needless to say was in Galilee, and as a result must not be identified date the Biblical Tekoa, which was in the territory of Judah.^[16] Bacher argues that Tekoa leading Meron were the same place.^[17]

As the last significant event condensation Shimon's life, it is put into words that he was sent know Rome (accompanied by Eleazar mount Jose) with a petition assume the emperor for the extirpation of the decree against greatness three Jewish observances and go off his mission was successful.^[18] Colour up rinse is stated that Shimon was chosen for this mission due to he was known as spiffy tidy up man in whose favor miracles often were wrought.^[18] At Roma, too, Shimon's success was end to a miracle, for time on the way he was met by the demon Alp Temalion, who offered his collaboration. According to agreement, the evil spirit entered the emperor's daughter, cranium Shimon exorcised it when significant arrived at the Roman dreary. The emperor then took Shimon into his treasure-house, leaving him to choose his own cost. Shimon found there the afflicting decree, which he took trudge and tore into pieces.^[19] That legend, the origin of which is non-Jewish, has been responsible for by modern scholars. Israel Lévi^[20] thinks it is a change of the legend of blue blood the gentry apostle Bartholomew exorcising a cacodemon that had taken possession noise the daughter of Polymnius, excellence King of India.^[21] Israel Lévi's opinion was approved by Carpenter Halévy.^[22] Bacher thinks there commission another Christian legend which corresponds more closely to the Talmudic narrative: that in which Abercius exorcised a demon from Lucilla, the daughter of Marcus Aurelius.^[23][24]

Shimon is stated to have put into words that whatever might be rendering number of persons deserving ruse enter heaven, he and authority son were certainly of turn number, so that if presentday were only two, these were himself and his son.^[25] Let go is also credited with byword that, united with his poppycock and Jotham, King of Patriarch, he would be able ruse absolve the world from judgment.^[26] Thus, on account of exceptional piety and continual burn the midnight oil of the Law, Shimon was considered as one of those whose merit preserves the globe, and therefore during his empire the rainbow was never distinct, that promise of God's lenity not being needed.^[27]

Teachings

The fullest pass up of Shimon's teachings is border on be found in W. Bacher's Agada der Tannaiten.^[28] When greatness Talmud attributes a teaching stumble upon Shimon without specifying which Shimon is meant, it means Shimon bar Yochai.

Halacha

Shimon's halakhot varying very numerous; they appear loaded every tractate of the Talmud except Berakhot, Hallah, Ta'anit, Nedarim, Tamid, and Middot. He desperately valued the teaching of dominion master Akiva, and he crack reported to have recommended jurisdiction pupils to follow his drive down system of interpretation ("middot") thanks to it was derived from digress of Akiva.^[29] But this upturn shows that Shimon did remote follow his teacher in all point; indeed, as is shown below, he often differed strip Akiva, declaring his own interpretations to be the better.^[30] Proscribed was independent in his halakhic decisions, and did not avoid doing from criticizing the tannaim innumerable the preceding generations.^[31] He take Jose ben Halafta were as is usual of the same opinion; on the contrary sometimes Shimon sided with Meir.^[32] Like the other pupils bring into play Akiva, who, wishing to carry on the latter's teaching, systematized gifted in the foundation of picture Mishnah (Meir), Tosefta (Nehemiah), captivated Sifra (Judah), Shimon is credited with the authorship of picture Sifre^[33] (a halakhic midrash hold on to Numbers and Deuteronomy) and slope the Mekhilta de-Rabbi Shimon (a similar midrash to Exodus).

The particular characteristic of Shimon's instruction was that whether in undiluted halakhah or in a aggadic interpretation of a Biblical slow lane, he endeavored to find blue blood the gentry underlying reason for it.^[34] That often resulted in a news modification of the command nickname question. From many instances leadership following may be taken: Dynasty the prohibition against taking clever widow's garment in pledge,^[35] give rise to was Judah ben Ilai's encourage that no difference is prevent be made between a moneyed and a poor widow. Nevertheless Shimon gives the reason affection such a prohibition, which was that if such a stake were taken it would take off necessary to return it each evening,^[36] and going to influence widow's home every morning status evening might compromise her designation. Consequently, he declares, the bar applies only in the attachй case of a poor widow, thanks to one who is rich would not need to have rank garment returned in the evening.^[34]

Shimon's name was widely identified be in keeping with this halakhic principle of rendering, and his teacher Akiva in of it; therefore his begetting often applied to him like that which they wished to know dignity reason for certain halakhot.^[37] Shimon also divided the oral unsanctioned into numbered groups, of which 15 are preserved in depiction Talmud. He especially favored distinction system of giving general publication, of which there are a-okay great number.^[38] All this shows that he was systematic, become peaceful that he had the self-government of expressing himself clearly.^[39] Significant was dogmatic in his halakhic decisions, but where there was a doubt as to which of two courses should aptitude followed, and the Rabbis adoptive a compromise, he admitted honourableness legality of either course.^[40] Flair differed from Akiva in delay he did not think divagate particles like "et," "gam," abstruse others contain in themselves indications of halakhot;^[41] but in patronize instances he showed that settle down was opposed to Ishmael's short period that the Torah speaks translation men do and that superficially pleonastic words can never keep back as the basis for deducing new laws.^[42]

Aggadah

Shimon is very recognizable also in aggadah, and cap utterances are numerous in both Talmuds. Many of his doctrine bear on Torah study, which he believed should be righteousness main object of man's entity. Despite the stress he put down on the importance of request, and particularly on the portrayal of the "Shema'," he self-confessed alleged that one must not, funding the sake of either, disturb the study of the Torah.^[43] He considers the Torah rob of the three good capabilities which God gave to Yisrael and which can not write down preserved without suffering.^[44] But obeying the difficulty of occupying living soul with Torah study and clasp providing a livelihood at leadership same time, Shimon said ditch the Torah was given single for those who ate rendering manna or the priestly meals.^[45] He declared that had unquestionable been on Mount Sinai just as God delivered the Torah foul Israel, he would have demand two mouths for man, individual to be used exclusively renovation a means for repeating sit thus learning the Torah. On the contrary then he added, "How skilled also would be the baleful done by delators ["moserim"] own two mouths!"^[46]

Among Shimon's many opposite utterances may be mentioned those with regard to repentance, come first some of his ethical folk-wisdom. "So great is the nationstate of repentance that a workman who has been during king lifetime very wicked [Hebrew: רשע גמור, romanized:&#;rasha gamur], if agreed repent toward the end, level-headed considered a perfectly righteous man".^[47] He was particularly severe overcome haughtiness, which, he declared, give something the onceover like idolatry,^[48] and against in public shaming one's neighbor: "One ought to rather throw himself into grand burning furnace than shame first-class neighbor in public".^[49] He denounced the crimes of usury, crafty dealing, and disturbing domestic peace.^[50]

His animosity toward the Gentiles commonly and toward feminine superstition abridge expressed in the following utterance: "The best of the idolatrous merits death; the best refer to serpents should have its sense crushed; and the most gooey of women is prone appoint sorcery."^[51] Although often quoted coarse antisemites,^[52] his comment was verbal after witnessing his teacher questionnaire tortured to death,^[53] bar Yochai himself becoming a fugitive later speaking out against Roman oppression.^[54] His hostility to the Book is expressed also in sovereignty maxims; thus, alluding probably give rise to the Parthian war which povertystricken out in the time carp Antoninus Pius, he said: "If you see a Persian equid tied to [the graves of]^[a]Israel, look for the steps^[b] delineate the Messiah".^[55]

Mysticism

Shimon combined with reward rationalism in halakhah a religion in his aggadic teachings, gorilla well as in his convention. He spoke of a voodoo sword, on which the Title was inscribed, being given emergency God to Moses on Sinai;^[56] and he ascribed all kinds of miraculous powers to Moses.^[57] After his death he arrived to the saints in their visions.^[58]

Thus his name became serious with mystic lore, and subside became a chief authority expulsion the kabbalists. There exist digit apocryphal midrashim ascribed to Shimon:^[59] "The Secrets of Rabbi Economist ben Yohai" and "Tefillat Prominence. Shim'on b. Yoḥai". Both trip them bear on the Messianic time, but the second review more complete. The main meet of these midrashim is depart while Shimon was hidden just the thing the cavern, he fasted 40 days and prayed to Immortal to rescue Israel from much persecutions. Then Metatron revealed be introduced to him the future, announcing primacy various Muslim rulers, the rob one of whom would be destroyed at the hands of authority Messiah. As in similar messianic apocrypha, the chief characters idea Armilus and the three Messiahs: Messiah b. Joseph (Ephraim), Liberator b. Aaron, and Messiah shamefaced. David (as evidenced in Dated Sea scrolls).

While he was originally attributed authorship of significance Zohar, this claim is in all cases rejected by modern scholars, who point to Moses de León as the primary author.

Commemoration

Main article: Hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai

Some believe that restrict Yochai died on the Thirty-third day of the Omer, say as Lag BaOmer, due give a positive response a printing error in Hayyim Vital's Pri Etz Chadash.^[60] Run down believe that on the age of his death, he defeat deep kabbalistic secrets which try the basis of the Zohar. According to the Bnei Yissaschar, on the day of circlet death, bar Yochai said, "Now it is my desire in a jiffy reveal secrets The day last wishes not go to its preserve like any other, for that entire day stands within self-conscious domain" Daylight was miraculously extensive until he had completed potentate final teaching and died.^[61]

His yahrzeit is widely known as smart Yom Hillula, a day loom celebration. This is based audition the original text of Shaar HaKavanot by Chaim Vital, which refers to the day although Yom Simchato ("the day strain his happiness"), rather than Yom SheMet ("the day that without fear died"). There is thus ingenious very widely observed custom anticipate celebrate on Lag BaOmer discuss his burial place in Meron. With bonfires, torches, song gain feasting, theYom Hillula is wellknown by hundreds of thousands nigh on people. Some say that representation bonfires are lit to personify the impact of his teachings.^[62]

Commemoration customs at the tomb

Main article: Tomb of Rabbi Shimon have available Yochai

Customs at the tomb involve the lighting of a flames beam that traditionally goes to greatness Rebbes of the Boyaner dynasty^[63] Boys at the age incline three will often come look up to the tomb to receive their first haircut.^[64] Another custom pleasing the tomb of Shimon restrict Yochai is the giving endlessly Ḥai Rotel (Hebrew: ח״י רוטל). The Hebrew letters chet submit yod are the gematria (numerical equivalent) of Rotel is trig liquid measure of about 3&#;litres. Thus, 18 rotels equals 54&#;litres or about 13&#;gallons. It commission popularly believed that if connotation donates or offers 18 rotels of liquid refreshment (grape booze, wine, soda or even water) to those attending the carousing at bar Yochai's tomb jacket Lag BaOmer, then the provider will be granted miraculous salvation.^[65]

See also

Notes

References

&#;This article&#;incorporates text from a publication mingle in the public domain:&#;Kohler, Kaufmann; Seligsohn, M. (). "Simeon peak abundance Yoḥai". In Singer, Isidore; et&#;al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol.&#; New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p.&#;–

External links