Eleazar ben Shammua

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For another Rabbi Eleazar, see Eleazar ben Pedat. For similar names, see Rabbi Eleazar (disambiguation).
Rabbinical eras

Eleazar ben Shammua or Eleazar I (

rabbinic writings as simply Rabbi Eleazar (Bavli) or Rabbi Lazar רִבִּי לָֽעְזָר (Yerushalmi).[1] He was of priestly descent[2] and rich,[3]
and acquired great fame as a teacher of traditional law.

Biography

Eleazar ben Shammua was a student of

Usha and Shefa-Amr. The ordainer was detected in the act and brutally slain, but the ordained escaped, and eventually became the custodians and disseminators of Jewish tradition.[5]

Mention is made of a controversy between Eleazar and Rabbi Meir at Ardiska.[6] He also maintained halakhic discussions with Judah bar Ilai and Jose ben Halafta,[7] and quite frequently with Shimon bar Yoḥai;[8] but he never appeared with them at the sessions of the Sanhedrin at Usha. Hence it may be assumed that he did not return to the scene of his ordination. Wherever he settled, he presided over an academy to which many students were attracted,[9] including Joseph or Issi ha-Babli[10] and Judah ha-Nasi.[11] Thus, while his name does not appear in rabbinic lore as often as the names of his colleagues at the ordination, Eleazar had an significant influence on the development of the Talmud. Abba Arikha styles him "the most excellent among the sages",[12] and Johanan bar Nappaha expresses unbounded admiration for his large-heartedness.[13]

His nickname

See also: Eleazar Chisma

The following story concerning Eleazar is twice told in the

Midrashim:[14] R. Eleazar visited a certain place where he was invited to lead the people in prayer, but he said he was unable to do so. "What!" cried the astonished people; "is this the celebrated R. Eleazar? Surely he deserves not to be called 'Rabbi'!" Eleazar's face colored with shame, and he returned to his teacher Rabbi Akiva. "Why are you so crestfallen?" inquired Akiva; whereupon Eleazar related his unpleasant experience. "Does my master wish to learn?" asked Akiva; and, on receiving Eleazar's affirmative answer, Akiva instructed him. Later, Eleazar again visited the scene of his embarrassment, and the people again requested that he lead them in prayer. This time he readily complied with their request, whereupon the people remarked, "R. Eleazar has become unmuzzled" (איטחסם, from חסם = "to muzzle"), and they called him "Eleazar Hasma".[15]

The protagonist of this story is Eleazar ben Shammua, and not (as is often assumed)

halakhic discussion between him and Eleazar ben Azariah and Akiva, his name precedes that of Akiva.[16]
In contrast, Eleazar ben Shammua was an acknowledged disciple of Akiva, and the Midrashim explicitly state that he "went to Akiva, his teacher."

Teachings

His disciples once requested that he tell them how he merited unusual longevity, when he replied, "I have never converted the

Law and in deeds of benevolence."[18] According to Eleazar, children as well as pious adults share in the glory of God.[19] He also taught that the world rests on a single pillar, the name of which is Righteousness, as the Bible says,[20] "The righteous is the foundation of the world".[21]

Quotes
  • Even a fox, if it is his hour, bow down before him![23]

References

  1. Yerushalmi Gittin 3 45a, Mishnah
    and Gemara
  2. Soṭah
    39a
  3. Eccl. R.
    11:1
  4. Zevachim
    93a, 110b
  5. Avodah Zarah
    8b
  6. A. Neubauer
    , G. T. p. 106
  7. ^ Tosefta Zevachim 5:4, 10:10
  8. Sheḳ. 3:1; Yoma
    5:7
  9. Yevamot 8 9d; compare Mekhilta
    , Beshallah, Amalek, 1
  10. Men.
    18a
  11. ^ Eruvin 53a
  12. Gittin
    26b
  13. ^ Eruvin 53a
  14. Cant. R.
    2:2
  15. A. Geiger
    , Schriften, iv. 343
  16. Nedarim 7:2; Sifre
    Deuteronomy 16
  17. Soṭah
    39a
  18. Sanhedrin
    98b
  19. ^ Midrash Tehillim 22:31
  20. ^ Proverbs 10:25
  21. Hagigah
    12b
  22. Avot of Rabbi Natan
    27:4
  23. ^ "Megillah 16b:5". www.sefaria.org.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the

S. Mendelsohn (1901–1906). "Eleazer ben Shammua". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia
. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.

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