Yochanan ben Zakai

Yochanan ben Zakai (Hebrew: יוחנן בן זכאי c. 30 B.C.E. - 90 C.E.) was one of the tannaim, an important Jewish sage in the era of the Second Temple, and a primary contributor to the core text of rabbinic Judaism, the Mishnah.

Life

Little is know about his early life and family, but the Mishnah portrays him as a merchant in the first third of his life, as a student in the the second third, and only teaching for the final third. He is considered an important link in the chain of religious teaching, passing on the wisdom of both Hillel and Shammai to subsequent generations. Generally, however, he is considered to have been more in favor of Hillel's views than of Shammai's, and is said to have been Hillel's youngest pupil.

The Talmud reports that, in the mid first century, he was particularly active in refuting the Sadducees' interpretations of halakah, as opposed to those of his own party, the Pharisees. So dedicated was he to opposing the Sadducee view of Jewish law, that he prevented the Jewish high priest, who was a Sadducee, from following the Sadducee interpretation of the Red Heifer ritual

His school in Jerusalem was called the "great house," after the expression in 2 Kings 25:9. It was the scene of many incidents preserved in later history and legend (Lam. R. i. 12; Gen. R. iv). An old tradition (Pes. 26a) relates that Johanan sat in the shadow of the Temple and lectured the whole day.

Although he taught in Jerusalem, his home, at this time, seems to have been in a town called 'Arab in the Galilee. There, he found the indifference of the Galileans on matters of Sabbath observance, reportedly exclaiming: "O Galilee, Galilee, thou hatest the Torah; hence wilt thou fall into the hands of robbers!" (Shab. xvi. 7, xxii. 3). Like Jeremiah before him, and like the Christian Messiah Jesus of Nazareth, he also prophesied against the Temple of Jerusalem, saying: "O Temple, Temple, why dost thou frighten thyself? I know of thee that thou shalt be destroyed." (Yoma 39b)

During the siege of Jerusalem in the Jewish Revolt of 66-70 C.E., he argued in favor of peace. When internal strife between the Jewish factions in the city became intolerable to him, he arranged to be smuggled out of the city in a coffin, so that he could negotiate with Vespasian, who, at this time, was still still a military commander. Vespasian granted Johanan permission to resettle in Jamnia and reestablish his academy there, an event which would come to have major importance in the survival and later history of the Jewish religion.

After the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred temple, Johanan converted his school at Jamnia into the Jewish religious center, successfully insisting that certain privileges given by Jewish law to Jerusalem should be transferred to Jamnia (Rosh haShanah 4:1-3). His academy also came to act as a in place of Jerusalem's Jewish legislative council, the Sanhedrin. He soon established the Council of Jamnia (70-90 C.E.), to decide how to deal with the loss of the sacrificial altars of the Temple of Jerusalem, and other pertinent questions. Referring to a famous passage in the Book of Hosea, which states I desired mercy, and not sacrifice (Hosea 6:6)</ref>, he helped persuade the council to replace animal sacrifice with prayer (Rabbi Nathan, Abot 4), a practice that continues in today's worship services. Rabbinic Judaism emerged from the council's conclusions, replacing the previous system in which the priests had played the key role.

In his last years he taught at Berur Hayil (Sanhedrin 32b), a location near Jamnia. His students were present at his deathbed. The Talmud records his last words, which seem to relate to the Jewish Messiah: "prepare a throne for Hezekiah, the King of Judah, who is coming." (Berakot 28b)

His students returned to Jamnia upon his death, and he was buried in the city of Tiberias. Eleven centuries later, Maimonides was buried nearby. In his role as leader of the Jewish Council, he was succeeded by Gamaliel II.

Teachings and character

Despite being the most influential rabbi of his time, he is not associated with any Jewish legal rulings of his own. On the other hand, numerous important homiletic and exegetical sayings are attributed to him.

Jewish tradition records Johanan as being extremely dedicated to religious study, claiming that he was always the last to leave the academy and that "no one ever found him engaged in anything but study." (Sukkot 28a) His motto was: "If thou hast learned much of the Torah, do not take credit for it; for this was the purpose of thy creation." (Ab. 2:8) On the other hand, he warned against an obsessive devotion to study, emphasizing that piety was just as important as scholarship: "Whoever possesses both these characteristics at the same time is like an artist who has his tools in his hands." (Ab. R. N. 22).

On one occasion he advised that mankind should seek to understand the infinity of God, by imagining the heavens being extended to unthinkable distances (Hagigah 13a). On another hand, he argued that Job's piety was not based on the love of God, but on the fear of Him (Soṭah 5:5).

Regarding the coming of the Messiah, he seems to have adopted a somewhat skeptical view, considering the numerous messianic pretenders of his day saying:

If you are holding a sapling in your hand and someone tells you, 'Come quickly, the messiah is here!', first finish planting the tree and then go to greet the Messiah (Rabbi Nathan, Abot, 31b).

Modern memorials

A synagogue in modern Israel, named the Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue, is held by Jewish legend to be sited at the place of Johanan's final prayers, prior to his escape from Jerusalem. A moshav in central Israel, Ben Zakai, is also named after him.

See also

Rabbis of the Mishnah

Hillel   Shammai           Teacher → Student                                                                             Gamaliel the Elder               Johanan b. Zakai                 Father → Son                                                                                 R. Gamaliel   Jose the Galilean   Eliezer b. Hyrcanus   Joshua b. Hananiah   Eleazar b. Arach   Eleazar b. Azariah                                                                         Elisha b. Abuyah       Akiva   Ishmael b. Elisha   Tarfon                                                                                                 Meir   Judah b. Ilai   Jose b. Halafta   Shimon b. Yohai                                                                                             Judah HaNasi   Hiyya   Oshiah

External links

• JOHANAN B. ZACCAI Jewish Encyclopedia
• Rabbi Yochanan ben Zaccai Israel Guide
• "Rabbi Yochanan ben Zaccai" Orthodox Union

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