Chapter 11: Meet the Rabbis
Long before anything was written down, the oral tradition of Scripture was preserved by "walking books." Rabbinic literature is really comprised of scholars who immersed themselves in holy Scripture and passed the teachings of Torah down from generation to generation. Beginning with Moses on Mt. Sinai, the revelation of oral teachings was preserved from one family to the next. A Torah master mentored disciples, who eventually wrote down the oral teachings. The sages in Talmudic literature may be divided primarily into two groups: The Tannaim and the Amoraim.
The Tannaim - 20 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.
The Tannaim
were scholars, teachers, and community leaders who flourished from the time of Hillel and Shammai, around 20 B.C.E., until the written compilation of the Mishnah, around the time of Judah the Prince in 220 C.E. The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. and the Bar Kokhba revolt, which ended in 135 C.E. are major landmark dates in assessing the life and times of the Tannaim.
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"If you have learned much Torah, do not ascribe special merit to yourself because it was for this reason that you were created" (Avot 2:9). |
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a. Was a younger contemporary of Jesus |
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b. Survived destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70 C.E. |
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c. Established a study center in Yavneh (Yavneh became a major center of Jewish scholarship and culture) |
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d. Was a disciple of Hillel the Elder |
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e. Emphasized loving God and showing a sincere love for others (even the hostile Romans) |
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f. Read more about Yochanen ben Zakhai
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"An evil eye [stinginess], an evil impulse, and hatred of other people drive a person out of the world" (Avot 2:16). |
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a. One of the five disciples of Yochanen ben Zakhai |
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b. Was about 30 years old when temple in Jerusalem was destroyed |
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c. Often disputed with Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus due to different view of Bible interpretation |
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d. Emphasized humility and an attitude of kindness toward others
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"The one who has bread in his basket today and says, 'What will I eat tomorrow?' behold, that one is of little faith" (b. Sotah 48b). |
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a. One of the five disciples of Yochanen ben Zakhai |
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b. With Rabbi Joshua ben Chananyah, carried their master, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakhai [who was pretending to be dead], out of besieged Jerusalem in a coffin |
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c. Possessed extensive knowledge of early Jewish tradition and ancient legal lore |