Talmudic Figures

An orphan, Abaye was raised by his uncle, Rabbah. The latter trained him to be a scholar from his youth and sent him to study under the other great teachers of the day. Abaye then became a devoted disciple of Rav Yosef, the head of the academy of Pumbedita, whom he succeeded. Known for his piety and his discussions with Rava, he is one of the most quoted disputants in the Talmud.

Abba Shaul is cited frequently in the Talmud and Midrash, often in connection with the Temple service. He lived in the generation of R. Akiva and was a gravedigger.

Simon bar Kokhba was a Jewish military leader in Judea. He is known for leading a revolt against the Roman empire, initiated in 132 CE. The rebellion ultimately was quashed; Bar Kokhba was killed by Roman forces, and his followers were either killed or enslaved.

The wife of R. Meir and daughter of R. Chananyah b. Teradyon, Beruriah was an outstanding scholar in her own right. Her wisdom is showcased in the Talmud, showing her great insight which particularly benefited her husband.

Choni lived in the time of Shimon b. Shetach and was known for his great piety and scholarship. Several spiritual feats are associated with him, such as drawing a circle in the sand and refusing to move until God produced proper rain. Another story recounts his going to sleep for 70 years.

Elisha ben Abuyah was a tannaitic sage who adopted a heretical worldview. He is mentioned twice in tannaitic literature and appears in several stories throughout the Talmud and midrashic literature. Elisha is often referred to as “acher” (“other one”) as a result of his heresy.

Hillel was one of the most influential of the early sages, active toward the end of the first century BCE and the beginning of the first century CE. Coming from Babylon to the land of Israel, he became famous for his scholarship and his patient and tolerant manner. Bolstered by his Davidic lineage, he served as nasi (president) of the Sanhedrin (judicial assembly).

A direct descendent of his namesake who was the originator of the dynasty, Hillel II was one of the last to hold the title of Nasi. As life in Palestine was getting increasingly difficult, he established the fixed calendar still in use today.

Rabban Gamliel became Nasi soon after Hillel died, shortly before the Temple's destruction. Part of his tenure came during a short respite from the Jews' troubles with the reign of Agrippa, who was befriended and taught by R. Gamliel. Many leniencies were legislated under him, and it is was likely he who brought the Great Academy of Jerusalem to Yavneh.

Rabban Gamliel (II) was a tannaitic sage in the first and second centuries CE. He was the first to serve as nasi (leader of the Sanhedrin) after the destruction of the Second Temple and worked to strengthen the Jewish community and leadership in the post-Temple era. Rabban Gamliel occasionally acted in ways that involved publicly shaming other rabbis, which led to pushback and his temporary deposition.

Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai was a first-century Jewish leader and scholar who oversaw the fragile transition of the Jewish people to life without a Temple, upon the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE at the hands of the Romans. While he sought accommodation with the Romans, he was unable to convince the faction of zealots to give up their position, which ultimately led to the destruction of Jerusalem. Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai's students smuggled him out of Jerusalem, enabling him to renew Jewish life and learning from Yavneh. He is famous for establishing takkanot, halakhic decrees, that represent the shift from a Temple-centric Judaism to a Judaism without a Temple.

R. Akiva was a student of R. Tarfon, R. Eliezer and R. Yehoshua, but quickly became their colleague. Coming from a simple family of converts, he began his study of Torah at age forty at the behest of his wife, Rachel. At the height of his glory, he is reputed to have had twenty-four thousand students. Yet these students died prematurely, and his prolific teachings were passed on by a small elite following. In the face of Roman persecution, he supported Bar Kochba's revolt and ultimately died as a martyr.

Raised in Babylonia, R. Chiyya moved to Palestine and became the greatest scholar in R. Yehudah haNasi's academy. He was centrally involved in the compilation of the Bereita and the Tosefta and led his own academy in Tiberias. Known for his piety as well as his scholarship, it is said that all of his prayers were answered.

R. Elazar b. Azaryah was among the scholars in Yavneh at the time of Rabban Gamliel. When the Sanhedrin temporarily deposed Rabban Gamliel, they installed R. Elazar as his replacement. Beyond his scholarship, he was also known for his great wealth and generosity.

R. Elazar studied under Rav before moving from Babylonia. In Palestine, he studied under R. Chiyya and became one of the community's outstanding scholars. While having differences with R. Yochanan, the two often collaborated. When the latter died, R. Elazar became the head of the academy in Tiberias.

R. Elazar b. Shimon ran away from the Roman authorities and hid in a cave for many years with his famous father, R. Shimon b. Yohai, where they studied Torah. Though his brilliance and piety remained with him, he eventually worked to catch thieves for the Romans, causing his unpopularity with some of his colleagues.

Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus was a rabbinic sage in the first and second centuries of the Common Era and one of the most frequently quoted rabbis in the Mishnah. Considered to be R. Yochanan ben Zakkai's greatest student, R. Eliezer was nevertheless a controversial figure. Coming from a wealthy but uneducated family, he left them to study Torah in poverty and eventually directed an academy in Lod. Highly conservative in his approach to Torah, he was isolated and eventually excommunicated by his colleagues.

R. Meir was a second century scholar whose teachings are quoted frequently in the Mishnah and throughout rabbinic literature. He studied under Elisha b. Abuya, R. Yishmael, and R. Akiva. He later became the head of the court in Usha, until he quarreled with R. Shimon ben Gamliel. At that point, he left the land of Israel altogether. He was also known to have experienced many miracles.

R. Natan was a Babylonian scholar with great respect for the Land of Israel. When he moved there, he was chosen as the head of the court under R. Shimon b. Gamliel - an office that he kept under R. Yehuda HaNasi as well. He was a prolific and perceptive scholar and is well known for his authorship of Pirkei D'R. Natan, an ethical and homelitc tract based loosely on Pirkei Avot.

Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish began his journey studying Torah in his youth but later turned to a life of banditry. Recognizing his potential, Rabbi Yochanan persuaded him to become a Torah scholar, and they studied together for many years. During this time, Rabbi Lakish became renowned for his scholarship, eventually reaching a level comparable to Rabbi Yochanan. Unfortunately, an argument between them indirectly led to Rabbi Lakish's premature death.

R. Shimon bar Yochai was a second-century sage who lived in the land of Israel. A student of R. Akiva, he emerged as a significant scholar in the subsequent generation. Through his involvement in mysticism and his reputed authorship of the Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, he left an important legacy. His negative attitude towards the Romans forced him and his son to hide in a cave for 13 years, an experience that sharpened his ascetic and mystical aptitudes.

R. Simlai first moved from Babylonia to Lud, but later moved to the Sanhedrin's seat in the Galilee, where he became an important scholar in Rabbi's court. He is known for his debates with Christians, as well as for his homiletical teachings.

R. Tarfon was a priest who lived at the time of the Temple's destruction and continued the practice of eating tithes even afterwards. He was a great scholar who frequently disagreed with R. Akiva, but was still his friend and ally. He is also known for his strong opposition to early Christianity.

R. Tzadok was an outstanding scholar during the time of R. Yochanan b. Zakkai. He is most famous for having fasted for forty years to avert the destruction of the Temple. He was healed by a Roman physician procured by Rabban Yochanan.

A prized student of R. Chiyya, R. Yannai married off his daughter to his teacher's son. A wealthy man, he supported some of his many students by having them work his lands. He was a prolific teacher and also composed prayers.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi was esteemed as the second most prominent student of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, establishing his own academy in Peki'in and emerging as a rival to Rabbi Eliezer. Despite his independent stance, Rabbi Yehoshua's disagreements with Rabban Gamliel led to eventual submission. This transformation elevated him to become the most influential scholar of his era.

R. Yehoshua ben Levi, a third-century sage from the land of Israel known for his piety and his scholarship, is frequently quoted in the Talmud. He was a contemporary of R. Chiyya and the head of the academy in Lod. Among other things, he was known for his access to the prophet Elijah and his ability to negotiate with the angel of death.

A student of R. Abuha and a colleague of R. Zera, R Yirmeyah was known for his humility as well as his exacting and outlandish questions. The latter got to the point where he was removed from the academy.

R. Yishmael (b. Elisha) was the head of an academy and intellectual rival of R. Akiva at a time of harsh Roman persecution. His teachings had an important impact on Jewish law and thought. Perhaps most famous among his teachings are his [thirteen exegetical principles], recited daily by many. The tannaitic midrashic works of the Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael and Sifrei Bamidbar are products of his school.

R. Yochanan studied under R. Yehudah haNasi and emerged as the next leader after his death. He directed the academy in Tiberias and set up the groundwork for the Jerusalem Talmud. His unusual beauty, sharpness and personal sufferings made him a captivating yet intimidating teacher. It was due to his personality and his unrivaled learning that the center of Torah study did not move to Babylonia during his lifetime.

A moderate scholar who lived during the Hadrianic persecutions, R Yose b. Kisma advocated accomodation with the Romans.

R. Zera was a student of R. Yehudah b. Yehezkel in Babylonia. Yet he greatly yearned to move to the Land of Israel and fasted for 100 days before he could feel worthy to do so. There, he studied under R. Elazar b. Pedat and R. Abahu and became known as the Pious Man of Babylonia.

Rabi (Rabbi Yehuda haNasi) succeeded his father, R. Shimon ben Gamliel as Nasi and was a key figure in Jewish history. A pious and brilliant scholar, he worked to further consolidate the authority of his office. His great wealth and his prestige among the Jews also impressed the Romans, resulting in many discussions with them. His greatest achievement, however, was his organization and compilation of Jewish Law in the Mishnah.

Moving from Babylonia to Israel around the same time as his uncle, Rav Chiyya, Rav studied in Rabbi' Yehudah haNasi's academy. Not finding his place there, he moved back to eventually set up an academy in Sura. His academy came to rival Shmuel's academy in Nehardea, as the fame of Rav's wisdom and learning spread far and wide. Besides his many legal decisions and interpretations, he wrote many prayers that are still in use.

Rav Ashi studied under the disciples of Abaye and Rava before becoming the head of one of the academies at the young age of fourteen. He held this position for sixty years, making him the prominent Jewish religious leader of his era. During the tolerant reigns succeeding Shapur II, Rav Ashi undertook the task of gathering and organizing all existing explanations of the Mishnah and its related texts. This monumental effort laid the foundation for the compilation of the Babylonian Talmud.

Rav Chisda studied under Rav and Rav Huna in Sura. He eventually got into a quarrel with the latter, causing him to leave and set up his own academy in the town of Kafri. After many years, they both regretted this and reconciled.

Rav Dimi was a student of Rabbi Yochanan who transmitted many of his teachings and those of others in Israel to the teachers of Babylonia, where he eventually settled. The Talmud often reports his discussions with Abaye.

Rav Huna, originally a disciple of Rav, later succeeded him as the head of the academy in Sura after a period without a leader. His profound scholarship and the diminishing influence of the center in Palestine prompted the Babylonian community to forge a more autonomous path. However, in financial matters, Rav Huna instructed his students to adhere to the rulings of Rav Nachman.

R. Nachman was a flamboyant but brilliant judge in Nehardea. His family connection to the exilarch and his wealth gave him special clout among the scholars. He lived a long life

Rav Pappa studied under Abaye and Rava, among others. He was wealthy and established his own academy in Naresh, not far from Sura. He is often remembered for his pithy aphorisms.

A contemporary of Rabbah, Rav Yosef became the head of the academy in Pumpedita after Rabbah's death. He was known for his humility and for his mastery of the corpus of Jewish law. While wealthy, Rav Yosef had health issues which brought him blindness and the loss of memory.

Rava is renowned for his debates with Abaye. Having studied under several teachers, he eventually became the head of the academy in Mechuza, where he attracted numerous students. He was affluent and, on occasion, successfully advocated for the Jewish community with the mother of King Shapur II of Persia.

Ravina was Rav Ashi's major assistant in compiling the Babylonian Talmud. Though older than Rav Ashi, Ravina saw the latter as his teacher. He spent his early years studying under Rava and frequently cited him. While he headed an academy for a very short time, he did much of his teaching on the road. He was also known for his compassion for others.

As the head of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish court), Shammai served as Hillel’s colleague, as well as his intellectual rival. He studied under Avtalyon and Shemaya and was a pious and punctilious defender of the tradition. His many students were known to be even sharper than those of Hillel.

During the tumultuous reign of Alexander Yannai, the third pair of the Zugot, Yehudah ben Tabbai and Shimon ben Shetach, faced significant challenges. Despite being Yannai's brother-in-law, Shimon had to go into hiding during Yannai's persecution of the Pharisees, while Yehudah fled to Egypt. Nonetheless, Shimon successfully wrested control of the Sanhedrin from the Sadducees.

Shmuel also left his native Babylonia to study at Rabbi's academy. Coming back before Rav and outliving him, Shmuel established Neharedea as the leading center of Torah study in Babylonia. Besides his Torah scholarship, Shmuel was famous for being an astronomer and physician and was honored by King Shapur I of Persia.

Shmuel the Little was a scholar known for his great humility and concern for others. Hence he was chosen to compose the text of a blessing (in the Amidah prayer) calling for the elimination of those endangering the Jewish people.

Ulla studied under R. Elazar b. Pedat and was a frequent contributor to discussions in the Talmud. Though he was from the Land of Israel, he made many trips to Babylonia to help the scholars there.

The third of the pairs, Yehudah b. Tabbai and Shimon b. Shetach served during the tumultuous reign of Alexander Yannai. Though Yannai's brother-in-law, Shimon had to hide at the height of Yannai's persecution of the Pharisees; while Yehudah fled to Egypt. Nevertheless, Shimon wrested control of the Sanhedrin away from the Sadducees.

[Shimon] Ben Azzai was a student of R. Tarfon and R. Yehoshua before becoming an extremely dedicated student of R. Akiva. His opinions are often quoted, and his love for Torah was so great that he did not want to interrupt its study even to raise a family. He died as a result of "entering the orchard" and seeking too much mystical enlightenment.

Ben Bag Bag was an early scholar who was considered to be very learned.