Johanan HaSandlar (Hebrew:יוחנן הסנדלר; lit. "Johanan the Shoemaker" or "Johanan the Sandalmaker",Hebrew:יוחנן הסנדלר; alternatively "Johanan the Alexandrian") was arabbi who lived in the second century (fourth generation oftannaim).
Biography
editHe was a great-grandson ofGamaliel, a prominent member of theSanhedrin; he also purportedly traced his ancestry back toDavid.[1]Rashi, the great medieval commentator, was a 33rd-generation descendant of Rabbi Yochanan.[citation needed]
The name "HaSandlar" may imply that Yohanan earned his living as ashoemaker, but it could also indicate that he was a native ofAlexandria inRoman Egypt.[2]
He was one of the main students ofRabbi Akiva (c. 50–135) and a contemporary of RabbiShimon bar Yochai (mid-second century[3]).[4]
Once, he went with several colleagues to the Valley ofRimmon 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,Rabbi Akiva was imprisoned and awaiting his doom at the command ofRufus. A marital question agitated the rabbis, and Johanan undertook to procure the closely guarded Akiva's advice upon it. Disguised as a peddler, he offered some goods for sale near the prison: "Who wants needles? Who wants hooks? How about privatehalitzah?" Akiba, looking out through an aperture, said in reply, "Do you have spindles? Do you havekasher (= "valid")?"[6]
At one time during the persecutions, Johanan andEleazar ben Shammua left Palestine, intending to betake themselves toJudah ben Bathyra inNisibis; but they did not carry out their intention. By the time they arrived atSidon they felt too homesick to proceed any farther, and returned.[7]
He died on the 29th day of the Hebrew month ofTammuz (the sameyahrzeit as that of Rashi), and was buried 200 meters from the tomb ofShimon bar Yochai inMeron, now located inIsrael.
Teachings
editHis halachic teachings are sometimes cited in the Mishnah,[8] andSimeon ben Gamaliel II reports two halakhot from him.[9]
Quotes
edit- "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
edit- ^Rabbi Yehiel Ben Shlomo Heilprin - Later Achronim
- ^Adin Steinsaltz (23 November 1993).The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition : Tractate Ketubot. Random House. p. 88.ISBN 978-0-679-42694-3. Retrieved14 September 2011.
- ^Israel Burgansky and Stephen G. Wald (2007)."Simeon Bar Yoḥai" entry inEncyclopaedia 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
- ^Pirkei Avot 4:14; compareAvot of Rabbi Natan 40 [ed. Schechter, pp. 64b, 65a]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic 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.