Eleazar ben Shammua or Eleazar I (Hebrew: אלעזר בן שמוע) was a rabbi of the 2nd century (4th generation of tannaim), frequently cited in 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.
Eleazar ben Shammua was a student of Rabbi Akiva,[4] but was not ordained by him due to the Hadrianic persecution. After Akiva's death, however, Judah ben Bava ordained Eleazar, together with Rabbi Meir, Jose ben Halafta, Judah bar Ilai, and Shimon bar Yochai, at a secluded spot between 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]
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) Eleazar Ḥisma. The latter was never Akiva's pupil. Indeed, he was Akiva's senior, and in the account of a 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."
Teachingsedit
His disciples once requested that he tell them how he merited unusual longevity, when he replied, "I have never converted the Synagogue into a passageway [for the sake of convenience]; have never trodden over the heads of the holy people [i.e., come late to college and stepped between the rows of attentive students; compare Abdan], and have never pronounced the priestly blessing before offering the benediction preceding it."[17] When asked what merits will save man from the tribulations which are to precede the Messianic epoch, he replied, "Let him engage in the study of 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]
Quotesedit
"Let the honor of your student be as dear to you as that of your colleague; that of your colleague, as the reverence of your master; and the reverence of your master, as that of the Most High."[22]
Even a fox, if it is his hour, bow down before him![23]
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For another Rabbi Eleazar see Eleazar ben Pedat For similar names see Rabbi Eleazar disambiguation Eleazar ben Shammua or Eleazar I Hebrew אלעזר בן שמוע was a rabbi of the 2nd century 4th generation of tannaim frequently cited in rabbinic writings as simply Rabbi Eleazar Bavli or Rabbi Lazar ר ב י ל ע ז ר Yerushalmi 1 He was of priestly descent 2 and rich 3 and acquired great fame as a teacher of traditional law Contents 1 Biography 1 1 His nickname 2 Teachings 2 1 Quotes 3 ReferencesBiography editEleazar ben Shammua was a student of Rabbi Akiva 4 but was not ordained by him due to the Hadrianic persecution After Akiva s death however Judah ben Bava ordained Eleazar together with Rabbi Meir Jose ben Halafta Judah bar Ilai and Shimon bar Yochai at a secluded spot between 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 edit 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 Eleazar Ḥisma The latter was never Akiva s pupil Indeed he was Akiva s senior and in the account of a 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 editHis disciples once requested that he tell them how he merited unusual longevity when he replied I have never converted the Synagogue into a passageway for the sake of convenience have never trodden over the heads of the holy people i e come late to college and stepped between the rows of attentive students compare Abdan and have never pronounced the priestly blessing before offering the benediction preceding it 17 When asked what merits will save man from the tribulations which are to precede the Messianic epoch he replied Let him engage in the study of 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 edit Let the honor of your student be as dear to you as that of your colleague that of your colleague as the reverence of your master and the reverence of your master as that of the Most High 22 Even a fox if it is his hour bow down before him 23 References edit Pirkei Avot 4 12 Gittin 3 8 incorrectly Eliezer compare Gemara Gittin 31b Yerushalmi Gittin 3 45a Mishnah and Gemara Meg 27b Soṭah 39a Eccl R 11 1 Zevachim 93a 110b Sanhedrin 13b Avodah Zarah 8b Tosefta Nazir 6 1 see A Neubauer G T p 106 Tosefta Zevachim 5 4 10 10 Sheḳ 3 1 Yoma 5 7 Eruvin 53a Yer Yevamot 8 9d compare Mekhilta Beshallah Amalek 1 Tosefta Zevachim 2 17 Men 18a Eruvin 53a טובינא דחכימי Ketuvot 40a Gittin 26b Eruvin 53a Leviticus Rabbah 23 4 Cant R 2 2 compare A Geiger Schriften iv 343 Nedarim 7 2 Sifre Deuteronomy 16 Megillah 27b Soṭah 39a Sanhedrin 98b Midrash Tehillim 22 31 Proverbs 10 25 Hagigah 12b Pirkei Avot 4 12 Avot of Rabbi Natan 27 4 Megillah 16b 5 www sefaria org nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Solomon Schechter S Mendelsohn 1901 1906 Eleazer ben Shammua In Singer Isidore et al eds The Jewish Encyclopedia New York Funk amp Wagnalls Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eleazar ben Shammua amp oldid 1176612776, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
