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Zugot
The ''Zugot'' (; ), also called Zugoth or ''Zugos'' in the Ashkenazi pronunciation, refers both to the two hundred year period ( 170 BCE – 30 CE, ) during the later Second Temple period, in which the spiritual leadership of the Jews was in the hands of five successions of "pairs" of religious teachers, and to each of these pairs themselves. Etymology In Hebrew, the word ''zuḡoṯ'' indicates pairs; it is the plural of ''zuḡ'', one half of a pair. Like , it is a loanword from via and was commonly used to refer to a spouse (cf ). Roles The zugot were five pairs of scholars who ruled a supreme court of the Jews (Sanhedrin) as '' nasi'' ( or "prince", i.e. president) and Av Beit Din (, "chief of the beth din"), respectively. After this period, the positions ''nasi'' and ''av bet din'' remained, but they were not zugot. The title of ''av beit din'' existed before the period of the zugot. His purpose was to oversee the Sanhedrin. The rank of nasi was a new instit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joshua Ben Perachiah
Joshua ben Perahiah or Joshua ben Perachya () was nasi (Hebrew title), nasi of the Sanhedrin in the latter half of the 2nd century BCE. With Nittai of Arbela, second of five pairs of scholars He and his colleague Nittai of Arbela were the second of the five pairs (Zugot) of scholars who received and transmitted Jewish tradition. At the time of the persecution of the Pharisees by John Hyrcanus (c. 134-104 BC), Joshua was deposed — a disgrace to which his words in Menachot 109b allude. However, in Sanhedrin 107b and Sotah 47a, it was during the persecutions of Pharisees 88-76 BC by Alexander Jannaeus, not John Hyrcanus whose persecution he fled. He fled to Alexandria, but returned to Jerusalem when the persecutions ceased and the Pharisees again triumphed over the Sadducees. Teachings and advice The following ethical maxim found in the ''Ethics of the Fathers'' shows his gentle judgment of his fellow men and his eagerness to spread knowledge among the people: Only a single hala ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hillel The Elder
Hillel ( ''Hīllēl''; variously called Hillel the Elder or Hillel the Babylonian; died c. 10 CE) was a Jewish religious leader, Sage (philosophy), sage and scholar associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud and the founder of the House of Hillel school of ''tannaim''. He was active during the end of the first century Common Era, BCE and the beginning of the first century CE. He is popularly known as the author of three sayings: * "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" * "That which is hateful to you, do not do unto your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn." * "Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and drawing them close to the Torah." Biography He came from Talmudic academies in Babylonia, Babylon to Land of Israel, Israel, although he was descended from David. His descendent Judah ha-Nasi, Judah haNasi traced his lin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abtalion
Abtalion ( ''ʾAḇṭalyōn'') or Avtalyon (Modern Hebrew) was a rabbinic sage in the early pre-Mishnaic era. He was a leader of the Pharisees during the 1st century BCE, and by tradition the vice-president of the great Sanhedrin of Jerusalem. He lived at the same time as Shmaya (tanna), Sh'maya. They are known as one of the zugot ("couples"): ''Shmaya and Avtalyon''. Abtalion lived approximately from 90 BCE - 20 BCE. Biography Abtalion and Shemaiah were Gerim, converts to Judaism or the descendants of converts; by tradition they were descended from King Sennacherib of Assyria. Despite this, they were influential and beloved. The ''Talmud'' relates that once, when the high priest was being escorted home from the Temple of Solomon, Temple by the people, at the close of a Day of Atonement, the crowd deserted him upon the approach of Abtalion and Shemaiah and followed them. However, Heinrich Graetz, Graetz has argued that neither Shemaiah nor Abtalion was of Gentile descent, althoug ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shmaya (tanna)
Shemaiah (, ''Šəmaʿyā''; , ''Samaíās''), or Shmaya (in Modern Hebrew) was a rabbinic sage in the early pre-Mishnaic era who lived at the same time as Abtalion. They are known as one of the '' zugot'' ("couples"): ''Shemaiah and Abtalion''; Shemaiah holding the title of '' nasi'', whilst Abtalion holding the office of Av Beit Din. Biography Abtalion and Shemaiah were converts to Judaism or the descendants of converts; by tradition they were descended from King Sennacherib of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Despite this, they were influential and beloved. The ''Talmud'' relates that once, when the high priest was being escorted home from the Temple by the people, at the close of a Day of Atonement, the crowd deserted him upon the approach of Abtalion and Shemaiah and followed them. However, Graetz has argued that neither Shemaiah nor Abtalion was of Gentile descent, although both were Alexandrians. According to the Mishnah, both Shemaiah and Abtalion studied Torah under Simeon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Simeon Ben Shetach
Simeon ben Shetach, or Shimon ben Shetach or Shatach (), ''circa'' 140-60 BCE, was a Pharisee scholar and Nasi of the Sanhedrin during the reigns of Alexander Jannæus (c. 103-76 BCE) and his successor, Queen Salome Alexandra (c. 76-67 BCE), who was Simeon's sister. He was therefore closely connected with the court, enjoying, at least initially, the favor of Alexander. Simeon lived approximately from 140 BCE - 60 BCE. Although a rabbi by profession, the omission of such an epithet when referred to in rabbinic literature is said to attest to his greatness as a rabbinic Sage, ranking with Hillel. The Shim'on ben Shatah Street in the center of Jerusalem carries his name. Under Alexander Jannaeus During the reign of Alexander the Sanhedrin consisted almost entirely of Sadducees; nevertheless Simeon succeeded in ousting some of the Sadducean members and in replacing them with Pharisees. Having accomplished this, Simeon recalled from Alexandria, Egypt the Pharisees who had been co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Judah Ben Tabbai
Judah ben Tabbai ( ''Yehuda ben Tabbai'') was a Pharisee scholar, av beit din of the Sanhedrin, and one of "the Pairs" (''zugot'') of Jewish leaders who lived in the first century BCE. He lived approximately from 120 BCE to 50 BCE. Av beit din of the Sanhedrin To escape Alexander Jannaeus's persecution of the Pharisees, Judah ben Tabbai, who was already a prominent Pharisee scholar, fled to Alexandria. After Jannaeus's death in 76 BCE, Salome Alexandra became queen of Judea. The Pharisees now became not only a tolerated section of the community, but actually the ruling class. Salome Alexandra installed as High Priest of Israel, high priest her eldest son, Hyrcanus II, a man who was wholly supportive of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin was reorganized according to their wishes. As part of the reorganization, Salome appointed her brother Simeon ben Shetach as Nasi (Hebrew title), prince (''nasi'') of the Sanhedrin. Simeon ben Shetach wrote a flattering letter to Judah ben Tabbai, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nittai Of Arbela
Nittai of Arbela () was '' av beit din'' or vice-president of the Sanhedrin under the nasi Joshua ben Perachyah at the time of John Hyrcanus (r. 134–104 BC). Name In Yer. Hag. II 76d he is called Mattai of Arbela, which is also found in ancient and linguistically reliable manuscripts of the Mishnah, such as Codex Kaufmann, Codex Parma A and the Cambridge Codex (edited by W. H. Lowe). The confusion in the rendering of his name seems to be due to faulty textual transmission, i.e. the Hebrew mem being separated graphically into two parts, which looked, respectively as a nun and a yod, thus Mattai became Nittai. Arbela was a city of the Galilee not far from Tiberias. Teachings No halakhot of his are extant, but some of his apothegms have been preserved in such sources as Pirkei Avot; these afford a glimpse of his character, to wit: "Distance thyself from a bad neighbor; consort not with an evil man, nor despair at tribulation." Avot i.7. These bitter utterances contrast shar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shammai
Shammai (c. 50 BCE – c. 30 CE, , ''Šammaʾy'') also known as Shammai the Elder (שַׁמַּאי הַזָּקֵן) was a Jewish scholar of the 1st century and an important figure in Judaism's core work of rabbinic literature, the Mishnah. Shammai was the most eminent contemporary of the sage and scholar Hillel. His teachings mostly agree with those of Hillel, except on three issues. Both were divided over an earlier rabbinic dispute, regarding the actual laying on of hands upon a sacrificial animal on a Festival Day, which Hillel permitted.Jerusalem Talmud ('' Hagigah'' 2:2 0b; 12a Their disciples, who had differing views to their masters, disputed many other halakhic matters. The School of Shammai, founded by Shammai, is almost invariably mentioned along with the School of Hillel, founded by Hillel. They differed fundamentally from each other. Although they were contemporaries, Hillel was nearly 60 years old at the time of Shammai's birth. While the terms "liberal" ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jose Ben Jochanan
Jose ben Jochanan (, Yose ben Yochanan or Joseph ben Johanan) was Av Beit Din (Chief Justice) of the Sanhedrin in the 2nd century BCE. He was a native of Jerusalem. He and Jose ben Joezer were the successors and, it is said, the disciples of Antigonus of Sokho, and the two together formed the first of a series of duumvirates that transmitted the traditional law; according to tradition, in each pair one was the Nasi (prince or president) and the other was the Av Beit Din (Chief Justice of the Sanhedrin). One of Jose's sayings was: "Let thy house be opened wide; and let the needy be thy household; and prolong not converse with woman". A disagreement between the two colleagues with regard to halakhic decisions gave rise to the formation of two different schools. Both men were opposed to Hellenism, and both belonged to the Hasideans. Jose ben Joezer and Jose ben Johanan were the last of the "eshkolot", or "wise men" (from Hebrew ''Eshkolot'', "bunches f grapes, poet. "abounding in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jose Ben Joezer
Jose ben Joezer (also spelt Yose ben Yoezer) was a rabbi of the early Maccabean period, possibly a disciple of Antigonus of Soko and member of the ascetic group known as the Hasidæans, though neither is certain. He belonged to a priestly family. Biography With him and Jose ben Johanan of Jerusalem, his colleague, begins the period known in Jewish history as that of the zugot (duumvirate), which ended with Hillel and Shammai. According to an old tradition, the member of the "zugot" mentioned first occupied the office of Nasi (president) of the Sanhedrin, while the one mentioned second served in the capacity of vice-president. Jose belonged to the party of the Ḥasidim, and was a decided adversary of Hellenism. To prevent Jews from settling beyond Judea he declared all pagan countries " unclean". He declared also glass utensils "unclean", probably because they were manufactured in pagan countries. In other respects, however, he was very liberal, and received the surname "Sha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Witchcraft
Witchcraft is the use of Magic (supernatural), magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', "Witchcraft thus defined exists more in the imagination", but it "has constituted for many cultures a viable explanation of evil in the world". The belief in witches has been found throughout history in a great number of societies worldwide. Most of these societies have used Apotropaic magic, protective magic or counter-magic against witchcraft, and have shunned, banished, imprisoned, physically punished or killed alleged witches. Anthropologists use the term "witchcraft" for similar beliefs about harmful occult practices in different cultures, and these societies often use the term when speaking in English. Belief in witchcraft as malevolent magic is attested from #Ancient Mesopotamian religion ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asmodeus
Asmodeus (; , ''Asmodaios'') or Ashmedai (; ; ; see below for other variations) is a king of demons in the legends of Solomon and the constructing of Solomon's Temple."Asmodeus" in '' The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 635. He is featured variously in Talmudic stories where he is the king of the ''shedim''. The Quran refers to a "puppet" in the Story of Solomon in Surah Ṣād verses 30-40, which is according to the '' mufassirūn'' (authorized exegetes of the Quran) referring to the demon-king Asmodeus (Sakhr). In Christianity, Asmodeus is mostly known from the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit. He is the primary antagonist and disrupts the marriages of Sarah. Peter Binsfeld classifies Asmodeus as the "demon of lust". Etymology The name ''Asmodai'' is believed to derive from the Avestan ''*aēšma-daēva'' (𐬀𐬉𐬴𐬨𐬀𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀*, *''aēṣ̌madaēuua''), where ''aēšma'' means "wra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
