Simeon ben Gamliel

Simeon ben Gamliel (I) ( or רשב"ג הראשון; c. 10 BCE – 70 CE) was a '' Tanna'' (sage) and leader of the Jewish people. He served as nasi of the Great Sanhedrin at Jerusalem during the outbreak of the First Jewish–Roman War, succeeding his father in the same office after his father's death in 50 CE and just before the destruction of the Second Temple.

Family

Rabban Shimon was the great-grandson of Hillel the Elder. He succeeded his father, Rabban Gamliel the Elder, as the Nasi (President) of the Sanhedrin.

His son was Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh. His daughter, Imma Shalom, married Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurcanus, one of the greatest students of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai (Babylonian Talmud, Bava Metzia 59b).

His name, ''Shimon'', was the same as that of his grandfather, Shimon ben Hillel, and his grandson, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel (the second). In rabbinic literature, he is referred to as "Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel the Elder" or "Rashbag the Martyr" to distinguish him from his grandson. However, at times he appears simply as "Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel," which creates confusion in distinguishing him from his grandson.

Life

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel was born in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. He was appointed as Nasi about 18 years before the destruction of the Second Temple and was the last Nasi during the Temple era. The Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 15a) quotes a Baraita:

During his time, the Sanhedrin was located in Jerusalem, but not in its traditional place, the Chamber of Hewn Stone, rather in the first exile of the Sanhedrin – shops on the Temple Mount, where the Sanhedrin had moved during the days of his father.

Josephus describes him in his autobiography:

During the Great Revolt

During his presidency, the Great Revolt against the Romans took place. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel was part of the moderate camp, alongside Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, and was close to the moderate revolutionary government that was established at the beginning of the revolt. According to Josephus, Rabban Shimon supported the revolt, despite being in the moderate camp:

Josephus writes praise for Shimon, but immediately afterward, he recounts that Shimon sought his removal from the position of military governor of Galilee, appointed by the revolutionary government. According to Josephus, he and Shimon had disagreements. Shimon was a friend of John of Gischala, Josephus’ rival, and Shimon agreed to John’s request to persuade the high priests Ananus ben Ananus and Joshua ben Gamla and others to dismiss Josephus. However, Ananus decided not to rush without evidence. Josephus claims that Shimon did not give up on his efforts and accuses him of a conspiracy: Shimon instructed John's brother to send gifts to Ananus and his faction to change their minds, and they decided to send envoys to Galilee to dismiss Josephus without the government’s knowledge. According to Josephus, this action caused great anger in Jerusalem toward Shimon and Ananus. The moderate revolutionary government did not last long and was overthrown by the Zealots.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel was killed during the revolt, as mentioned in the writings of the Geonim:

His execution

According to tradition, Shmuel HaKatan prophesied Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel's death at the time of his own passing, saying: In translation, as explained by Rashi, this refers to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha the Kohen Gadol being killed by the sword, with their fellow rabbis executed by other methods, and great calamities befalling the Jewish people.

Rabban Shimon is counted among the Ten Martyrs who were executed by the Romans. According to tradition, he was executed along with Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha on the 25th of Sivan, as recorded in the Arba'ah Turim (Orach Chaim, Siman 580).

Rabbi Aharon Hyman suggests that Rabban Shimon may have been executed by the Zealots due to his opposition to their radical methods, though this view lacks direct support from rabbinic sources.

In the Minor Tractates, it is recorded in Tractate Semachot (Chapter 8) that before their execution, one of them began to weep. His companion asked,

In an earlier source, a similar story is recounted:

The news of their deaths reached Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira, who tore their garments and lamented:

The Romans did not permit his son, Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh, to inherit his position and sought to kill him as well. Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai requested mercy on his behalf, and they agreed. After the execution of Rabban Shimon, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai assumed the role of Nasi for a few years, during which he enacted several decrees to uplift the people after the destruction of the Temple, moving the center of Jewish scholarship from Jerusalem to Yavneh. He later passed the position on to Rabban Shimon's son, Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh.

Famous deeds and practices

Only a few teachings are attributed to Rabban Shimon, but part of his Torah is quoted as the teachings of the "House of Hillel".

His Teachings in Pirkei Avot

The following teaching in Pirkei Avot is attributed to Rabban Shimon:

This identification comes from the Tosafot Yom Tov's commentary on this Mishnah, which emphasizes that this refers to the son of Rabban Gamliel the Elder, as opposed to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel the second.

Joy of the Festival

Rabban Shimon's participation in the Simchat Beit HaShoeva held in the Temple during Sukkot is well known. The Talmud states:

Lowering the Price of Bird Offerings

One of Rabban Shimon's most famous actions was his decree regarding the prices of bird offerings. A "ken" (bird offering) consists of a pair of turtledoves or young pigeons, which were required as a sacrifice for a woman after childbirth, for a leper, and in other circumstances.

The Mishnah (Keritot 1:7) recounts:

This ruling was exceptional, as originally the woman would be obligated to bring offerings for all her births or discharges. However, Rabban Shimon leniently ruled in this case based on the principle of "It is time to act for the Lord, they have made void Thy law" (Psalms 119:126), to prevent those obligated to bring offerings from abstaining due to the high prices.

The Mishnah concludes: "That day, the price of bird offerings dropped to a quarter of the original price," meaning they were reduced significantly, either to a quarter of a silver denar or to half of a silver denar, depending on the interpretation. This significant reduction in price made it affordable for the general population to bring their required sacrifices, thereby ensuring that individuals would fulfill their religious obligations without financial hardship.

Tomb

According to a later tradition, his tomb is located in Kafr Kanna, in the Galilee. During the October 2000 riots, the tomb was set on fire by Arab rioters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simeon ben Gamliel
1st-century BCE Jews
1st-century rabbis
10s BC births
70 deaths
Jewish martyrs
Mishnah rabbis
People executed by the Roman Empire
People of the First Jewish–Roman War
Pirkei Avot rabbis
Sanhedrin
Year of birth uncertain
People from Roman Judea