Johanan HaSandlar
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Johanan HaSandlar (lit. "Johanan the Shoemaker" or "Johanan the Sandalmaker", Hebrew: יוחנן הסנדלר; alternatively "Johanan the Alexandrian") was a rabbi who lived in the second century (fourth generation of tannaim).
Biography
He was a great-grandson of Gamaliel, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin; he also purportedly traced his ancestry back to David.[1] Rashi, the great medieval commentator, was a 33rd-generation descendant of Rabbi Yochanan.
The name "HaSandlar" may imply that Yohanan earned his living as a shoemaker, but it could also indicate that he was a native of Alexandria in Roman Egypt.[2]
He was one of the main students of Rabbi Akiva (c. 50–135) and a contemporary of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (mid-second century[3]).[4]
Once, he went with several colleagues to the Valley of Rimmon to institute a leap-year. Rabbi Meir had just cited an opinion which he ascribed to Akiba, but the authenticity of which Johanan denied, adding, "I have waited on R. Akiba standing [by his side as an advanced student] longer than you did sitting [as a mere hearer]." The learned company took umbrage at this derogatory remark, and murmured, "Johanan ha-Sandalar is a true Alexandrian [given to boasting]." The incident, however, ended in reconciliation, and the disputants did not leave the session without kissing each other.[5] Because he is called here "a true Alexandrian," it is assumed that he was a native of Alexandria.
Once, he once exposed himself to great danger to obtain an authoritative halachic decision. During the Hadrianic persecutions, when many rabbis had been put to death for teaching Judaism,
At one time during the persecutions, Johanan and
He died on the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz (the same yahrzeit as that of Rashi), and was buried 200 meters from the tomb of Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, now located in Israel.
Teachings
His halachic teachings are sometimes cited in the Mishnah,[8] and Simeon ben Gamaliel II reports two halakhot from him.[9]
Quotes
- "Every assembly that is for the sake of Heaven will survive; but if it is not for the sake of Heaven, it will not survive."[10]
References
- ^ Rabbi Yehiel Ben Shlomo Heilprin - Later Achronim
- ISBN 978-0-679-42694-3. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ Israel Burgansky and Stephen G. Wald (2007). "Simeon Bar Yoḥai" entry in Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition,
- ^ Genesis Rabbah 61:3; Ecclesiastes Rabbah 11:6; compare Yevamot 62b
- ^ Yerushalmi Hagigah 3 78d; see Rapoport, "'Erek Millin," p. 102a
- ^ Yerushalmi Yevamot 12 12d
- ^ Sifre Deuteronomy 80
- ^ Yevamot 12:5; Ketuvot 5:4; Kelim 5:5
- ^ Tosefta Kelim Kamma 4:2,5
- Avot of Rabbi Natan40 [ed. Schechter, pp. 64b, 65a]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "JOHANAN HA-SANDALAR". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
It has the following bibliography:
- Bacher, Ag. Tan. ii. 265;
- Brüll, Mebo ha-Mishnah, i. 198;
- Frankel, Darke ha-Mishnah, p. 175;
- Grätz, Gesch. 2d ed., iv. 177, 186;
- Weiss, Dor, ii. 166;
- Zacuto, Yuḥasin, p. 47a.