Shimon bar Yochai
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai | ||
---|---|---|
Yahrtzeit Lag BaOmer (Hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai) | | |
Buried | Kever Rashbi, Meron, Israel |
Shimon bar Yochai (
In addition, the important legal works called
According to modern legend, he and his son, Eleazar ben Simeon, were noted kabbalists.[2] Both figures are held in unique reverence by kabbalistic tradition. By tradition they were buried in the same tomb in Meron, Israel, which is visited by thousands year round.
Biography
Shimon was born in Galilee. He was one of the principal pupils of Akiva, under whom he studied 13 years at Bnei Brak.[3]
Berakhot 28a relates that Shimon had previously studied at Yavne, under Gamaliel II and Joshua ben Hananiah, and that he was the cause of the infamous quarrel that broke out between these two leaders. However, this statement is somewhat chronologically difficult, considering that about forty-five years later, when Akiva was thrown into prison, Shimon's father was still alive. Zecharias Frankel thus concluded the account in Berakhot 28a is spurious.[4]
Shimon's acuteness was tested and recognized by Akiva when he first came to him; of all his pupils Akiva ordained only Meir and Shimon. Conscious of his own merit, Shimon felt hurt at being ranked after Meir, and Akiva was compelled to soothe him with soft words.[5] During Akiva's lifetime Shimon was found occasionally at Sidon, where he seems to have shown great independence in his halakhic decisions.
The following incident is recorded, illustrating both his wit and his piety: A man and his wife, childless despite ten years of marriage, appeared before Shimon at Sidon to secure a divorce. Observing that they loved each other, and not being able to refuse a request which was in agreement with rabbinical law, Shimon told them that as their wedding was marked by a feast they should mark their separation in the same way. The result was that both changed their minds, and, owing to Shimon's prayer, God granted them a child.[6]
Shimon often returned to Akiva, and once he conveyed a message to him from his fellow pupil
Legends of persecution and hiding
The persecution of the Jews under
Shimon, accompanied by his son Eleazar, hid in a cavern near Gadara, where they stayed thirteen years, living on dates and carob fruit. Their whole bodies thus became covered with eruptions. One day, seeing that a bird had repeatedly escaped the net set for it by a hunter, Shimon and his son were encouraged to leave the cavern, taking the escape of the bird as an omen that God would not forsake them. When outside the cavern, they heard the bat ḳol say, "You are free"; they accordingly went their way. Shimon then bathed in the warm springs of Tiberias, which rid him of the disease contracted in the cavern, and he showed his gratitude to the town in the following manner:
Tiberias had been built by Herod Antipas on a site where there were many tombs,[11] the exact locations of which had been lost. The town therefore had been regarded as unclean. Resolving to remove the cause of the uncleanness, Shimon planted lupines in all suspected places; wherever they did not take root he knew that a tomb was underneath. The bodies were then exhumed and removed, and the town pronounced clean. To annoy and discredit Shimon, a certain Samaritan secretly replaced one of the bodies. But Shimon learned through the power of the Holy Spirit what the Samaritan had done, and said, "Let what is above go down, and what is below come up." The Samaritan was entombed; and a schoolmaster of Magdala[12] who mocked Shimon for his declaration, was turned into a heap of bones.[13]
In order to spare their garments, they sat naked in the sand, in consequence of which their skin became covered with scabs. At the end of twelve years, the prophet
Later stories
It appears that Shimon settled afterward at Meron, the valley in front of which place was filled, at Shimon's command, with gold dinars.
As the last important event in Shimon's life, it is said that he was sent to Rome (accompanied by Eleazar ben Jose) with a petition to the emperor for the abolition of the decree against the three Jewish observances, and that his mission was successful.[19] It is stated that Shimon was chosen for this mission because he was known as a man in whose favor miracles often were wrought.[19] At Rome, too, Shimon's success was due to a miracle, for while on the way he was met by the demon Ben Temalion, who offered his assistance. According to agreement, the demon entered into the emperor's daughter, and Shimon exorcised it when he arrived at the Roman court. The emperor then took Shimon into his treasure-house, leaving him to choose his own reward. Shimon found there the vexatious decree, which he took away and tore into pieces.[20] This legend, the origin of which apparently is non-Jewish, has been the subject of discussion by modern scholars. Israel Lévi[21] thinks it is a variation of the legend of the apostle Bartholomew exorcising a demon that had taken possession of the daughter of Polymnius, the King of India.[22] Israel Lévi's opinion was approved by Joseph Halévy.[23] Bacher thinks there is another Christian legend which corresponds more closely to the Talmudic narrative: that in which Abercius exorcised a demon from Lucilla, the daughter of Marcus Aurelius.[24][25]
Shimon is stated to have said that whatever might be the number of persons deserving to enter heaven, he and his son were certainly of that number, so that if there were only two, these were himself and his son.[26] He is also credited with saying that, united with his son and Jotham, King of Judah, he would be able to absolve the world from judgment.[27] Thus, on account of his exceptional piety and continual study of the Law, Shimon was considered as one of those whose merit preserves the world, and therefore during his life the rainbow was never seen, that promise of God's forbearance not being needed.[28]
Teachings
The fullest account of Shimon's teachings is to be found in W. Bacher's Agada der Tannaiten.[29] When the Talmud attributes a teaching to Shimon without specifying which Shimon is meant, it means Shimon bar Yochai.
Halacha
Shimon's
The particular characteristic of Shimon's teaching was that whether in a halakhah or in a aggadic interpretation of a Biblical command, he endeavored to find the underlying reason for it.
Shimon's name was widely identified with this halakhic principle of interpretation, and his teacher Akiva approved of it; therefore his contemporaries often applied to him when they wished to know the reason for certain halakhot.[38] Shimon also divided the oral law into numbered groups, of which 15 are preserved in the Talmud. He especially favored the system of giving general rules, of which there are a great number.[39] All this shows that he was systematic, and that he had the power of expressing himself clearly.[40] He was dogmatic in his halakhic decisions, but where there was a doubt as to which of two courses should be followed, and the Rabbis adopted a compromise, he admitted the legality of either course.[41] He differed from Akiva in that he did not think that particles like "et," "gam," and others contain in themselves indications of halakhot;[42] but in many instances he showed that he was opposed to Ishmael's opinion that the Torah speaks as men do and that seemingly pleonastic words can never serve as the basis for deducing new laws.[43]
Aggadah
Shimon is very prominent also in
Among Shimon's many other utterances may be mentioned those with regard to repentance, and some of his ethical sayings. "So great is the power of repentance that a man who has been during his lifetime very wicked [Hebrew: רשע גמור, romanized: rasha gamur], if he repent toward the end, is considered a perfectly righteous man".[48] He was particularly severe against haughtiness, which, he declared, is like idolatry,[49] and against publicly shaming one's neighbor: "One should rather throw himself into a burning furnace than shame a neighbor in public".[50] He denounced the crimes of usury, deceitful dealing, and disturbing domestic peace.[51]
His animosity toward the Gentiles generally and toward feminine superstition is expressed in the following utterance: "The best of the heathen merits death; the best of serpents should have its head crushed; and the most pious of women is prone to sorcery."
Mysticism
Shimon combined with his rationalism in halakhah a mysticism in his aggadic teachings, as well as in his practice. He spoke of a magic sword, on which the Name was inscribed, being given by God to Moses on Sinai;[57] and he ascribed all kinds of miraculous powers to Moses.[58] After his death he appeared to the saints in their visions.[59]
Thus his name became connected with mystic lore, and he became a chief authority for the
While he was originally (and, by most Kabbalists, is still) attributed primary authorship of the Zohar, the authenticity of this claim has been disputed by secular[61] and a minority of religious scholars,[62][63] who conjecture Moses de León (who published the Zohar in the 13th century) as the author.
Commemoration
Some believe that bar Yochai died on the 33rd day of the
His yahrzeit is widely known as a
Commemoration customs at the tomb
Customs at the tomb include the lighting of a bonfire that traditionally goes to the Rebbes of the Boyaner dynasty[67] Boys at the age of three will often come to the tomb to receive their first haircut.[68] Another custom at the tomb of Shimon bar Yochai is the giving of Ḥai Rotel (Hebrew: ח״י רוטל). The Hebrew letters chet and yod are the gematria (numerical equivalent) of 18. Rotel is a liquid measure of about 3 litres. Thus, 18 rotels equals 54 litres or about 13 gallons. It is popularly believed that if one donates or offers 18 rotels of liquid refreshment (grape juice, wine, soda or even water) to those attending the celebrations at bar Yochai's tomb on Lag BaOmer, then the giver will be granted miraculous salvation.[69]
See also
- Bar Yochai, a song praising him
- Bar Yohai, a community in northern Israel named after him
- Eleazar ben Simeon (his son)
Notes
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Kohler, Kaufmann; Seligsohn, M. (1905). "Simeon ben Yoḥai". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 359–363.
- ^ Drew Kaplan, "Rabbinic Popularity in the Mishnah VII: Top Ten Overall [Final Tally] Drew Kaplan's Blog (5 July 2011).
- ^ The Rav Shabtai Ben Yaakov Yitzhak Lifshitz, Segulot Israel (The Virtue of Israel), Set no. 7, Item 5
- ^ Leviticus Rabbah 21:7 et al.
- ^ "Darke ha-Mishnah," p. 168
- ^ Yerushalmi Terumot 46b; Yerushalmi Sanhedrin 1 19a
- ^ Pesiḳ. 22 147a; Cant. Rabbah 1:4
- ^ Niddah 52b; Tosefta Niddah 6:6
- ^ Pesachim 112a
- ^ Sanhedrin 14a
- ^ Shabbat 33b; Pesiḳ. 88b; Genesis Rabbah 79:6; Ecclesiastes Rabbah 10:8; Esther Rabbah i. 9
- ^ Josephus, "Antiquities" 18:2 § 3
- ^ But compare Buber, note 180, to Pesikta de-Rav Kahana 10 90a
- ^ "Shabbat 33b:6". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ comp., however, Zacuto, "Yuḥasin," ed. Filipowski, p. 46
- ^ Tanhuma Pekudei 7; Exodus Rabbah 52:3; compare Yerushalmi Berachot 9 13d; Pesiḳ. 10 87b; Genesis Rabbah 35:2
- ^ Tosefta Eruvin 8(5):6; Shabbat 147b
- II Chronicles11:6
- ^ "Ag. Tan." 2:76
- ^ a b Meilah 17b
- ^ Compare "Tefillot R. Shim'on b. Yoḥai" in Jellinek, "B. H." iv. 117 et seq., where, instead of "Ben Temalion," "Asmodeus" occurs.
- ^ in "R. E. J." viii. 200 et seq.
- ^ Found in the "Acta Apostolorum Apocrypha" ed. Tischendorf, pp. 246 et seq.
- ^ In "R. E. J." 10:60 et seq.
- ^ ib. 35:285 et seq.
- ^ Narrated by Shimon Metaphrastes in "Acta Sanctorum" (vol. ix., Oct. 22, 1896)
- ^ Sukkah 45b; Sanhedrin 97b; compare Shabbat 33b
- Babylonian Talmud (Sukkah 45b); compare Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 9:2 and Genesis Rabbah 35:3, where, according to this variant reading, from the time of Abraham until Shimon's own time, Abraham was able to draw all mankind nigh unto God (absolve the world from judgment), and that from Shimon's own time until the last of all generations Shimon himself was able to draw all mankind near unto God; but that if Abraham should refuse to do so, he (Shimon) and Ahijah the Shilonitecould do it together. No mention is made there of his son and Jotham.
- ^ Yerushalmi Berachot 9 13d
- ^ ii. pp. 70–149
- ^ Gittin 67a
- ^ Sifre, Deuteronomy 31; Rosh Hashana 18b
- ^ Compare Tosefta Ohalot 3:8, 15:11
- ^ Kelim 3:5; Meilah 11a
- ^ Sanhedrin 86a
- ^ a b Bava Metziah 115a et al.
- ^ Deuteronomy 24:17
- ^ Compare Exodus 22:25–26
- ^ Tosefta Zebachim 1:8
- ^ Bikurim 3:10; Zevachim 119b et al.
- ^ Shevuot 2:3; Eruvin 104b
- ^ Yevamot 3:9
- ^ Menachot 11b
- ^ Sifre Re'eh 119; Rosh Hashana 8b; Zevachim 108b et al.
- ^ Yerushalmi Hagigah 2 77a
- ^ Mekhilta Yitro Baḥodesh 10; Sifre Deuteronomy 32; Berachot 5a
- ^ Mekhilta Beshallaḥ Vayechi 1, Vayassa 2
- ^ Yerushalmi Shabbat 1 3a,b; Yerushalmi Berachot 1 3b
- ^ Tosefta Kiddushin 1 14; Kiddushin 40b; Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:16
- ^ Sotah 4b
- ^ Berachot 43b
- ^ Yerushalmi Bava Metziah 10d; Bava Metziah 58b; Leviticus Rabbah 9
- ^ Yerushalmi Kiddushin 4 66c; Massekhet Soferim 25:10; compare Mekhilta Beshallah Vayechi 1, and Tanhuma Vayera 20
- ^ "GENTILE - JewishEncyclopedia.com". www.jewishencyclopedia.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-58023-353-8.
- ISBN 978-0-88125-125-8.
- ^ Shir HaShirim Rabbah 8:10; Lamentations Rabbah 1:13. N.b. Zev Wolf Einhorn (MHRZU ad loc.) argues that this statement should be attributed to Abba b. Kahana.
- ^ Midrash Tehillim to Psalms 103:6; compare Midrash Tehillim to Psalms 36:5; Genesis Rabbah 35
- ^ Meilah 17b; Sanhedrin 97b
- ^ Bava Metziah 84b; Ketuvot 77b; Sanhedrin 98a
- ^ Published by Jellinek, "B. H." iii. 78 et seq., iv. 117 et seq.
- ^ Rubin, Ephraim. "When Was the Zohar Written?". www.talkreason.org.
- ^ Rabbi David Bar-Hayim. "Truth, Authenticity, Tradition and Reason: Who Wrote the Zohar?". Machon Shilo.
- ^ Rabbi Yiḥyah Qafiḥ. "The Holy Wars Against the False Qabalah of the Zohar". chayas.com.
- ^ Brodt, Eliezer. "A Printing Mistake and the Mysterious Origins of Rashbi's Yahrzeit". The Seforim Blog. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- ^ Bnei Yissaschar (1883 ed.). Piotrkow. pp. Iyar, Discourse 3:6.
- ^ Silberberg, Naftali (2011). "Lag BaOmer Traditions and Customs". chabad.org. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
- ^ Rossoff, Dovid (2005). קדושים אשר בארץ: קברי צדיקים בירושלים ובני ברק [The Holy Ones in the Earth: Graves of Tzaddikim in Jerusalem and Bnei Brak] (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Machon Otzar HaTorah. pp. 315–316.
- ^ Rossoff, Dovid. "Meron on Lag B'Omer". The Jewish Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
- ^ Lebovits, Moishe Dovid. "Lag BaOmer". Halachically Speaking. p. 6. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
- ^ This phrase appears in one version; Buber says it is correct.
- ^ The Rabbinic idiom "look for the steps of the Messiah" refers to Isaiah 52:7-8, "How pleasant upon the mountains are the steps of the Herald . . . the voice of your lookers will rise". The meaning is: expect that the Messiah has come.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia (1901-1906) entry on SIMEON BEN YOḤAI, by Kaufmann Kohler and M. Seligson
- Encyclopaedia Judaica (2nd edition, 2007) entry on Simeon Bar Yoḥai, by Israel Burgansky and Stephen G. Wald
- Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai. Chabad.org.
- Ohel ha-Rashbi