All Questions
Tagged with history historical-figures
67 questions
2
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1
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163
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How did anyone study the Talmud before Rashi?
Supposedly, the knowledge was transmitted from teacher to student in each generation and so Rashi learned it all from his teacher and wrote it all down.
Was it common for people to be familiar with ...
- 603
1
vote
2
answers
290
views
Did Ramban ever cite kabbalah books?
Is there any evidence Ramban (Nachmanides) had access to books of kabbalah and did he ever cite them? I believe he is generally seen as Maimonides’ mystical counterpart. Is there any historical record ...
- 4,532
1
vote
0
answers
448
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Who was Adina? (Lavan's wife)
In Sefer Hayashar it says:
ויזרע יצחק בארץ ההיא, וימצא בשנה ההיא מאה שערים ויברכו ה׳. ויגדל האיש ויהי לו ובשנת חמישים ושש שנים לחיי יעקב, באו אנשים מחרן ויגידו לרבקה על אודות לבן בן בתואל אחיה. כי ...
- 2,328
4
votes
2
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291
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Why do we have many teachings from Hillel and Shammai, but very few of earlier zugot?
We venerate our previous generations, and have a principle of yeridat hadorot. Therefore I would imagine that the Torah of Samaya and Avtalyon, for example, would be pure gold for us, and threaded ...
- 14.7k
0
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0
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98
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Which famous Rabbi had lifelong stomach pain?
I recently heard a shiur that quoted a famous rabbi (I think an Acharon) who talked about having stomach pain every day of his life, and studying torah was the only thing that gave him any joy. Does ...
0
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2
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134
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Where is Nimrod written about outside Genesis, Chronicles, and Micah? In particular, is he described anywhere as mighty, strong, vigorous, etc?
I am ultimately interested in finding out why Greek scribes translated the Hebrew works as "mighty hunter" in Genesis and Chronicles for the Septuagint. The original Hebrew in those books do ...
- 11
6
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1
answer
265
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Who wrote the Haggada?
Who wrote our haggada? Was is a tanna, amora or reishon?
I've heard different rumors from different people. Some say Rashi compiled it. Some say it was a tanna while others say it was an amora.
- 4,148
1
vote
1
answer
344
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Who is Onkelos?
We're all familiar with Onkelos as a convert and a translator. According to Wikipedia,
he was a prominent Roman nobleman, the son of a man named Callinicus and the sister of Titus, the Roman emperor. ...
- 2,312
8
votes
1
answer
708
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Who is Artaxerxes of Ezra 4?
Ezra 4:4-24:
4. Thereupon the people of the land undermined the resolve of the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build.
5. They bribed ministers in order to thwart their plans all the years of ...
- 46.6k
3
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0
answers
50
views
Who was the last Samukh (סמוך)?
Who was the last 'Samukh' (סמוך)?
Rambam stated in the introduction of his book, that the last Sanhedrin (סנהדרין) was a little before the Talmud was edited. But it says nothing about the last ...
- 679
5
votes
2
answers
215
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Day of Yosef’s Sale
I saw in a medrash - but can’t recall where - that the brothers sold Yosef on the tenth of Teveis.
Does any which medrash I could find this in?
- 7,025
6
votes
1
answer
365
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Where does Flavius Josephus get his description of historical events about the Patriarchs
Josephus lived in the 1st century and would accurately report the history in that time period. However he does report about the activities of the Patriarchs. These stories are found in the Jewish ...
- 71
2
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3
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762
views
Could Jesus have been a Rabbi?
Jesus was called a Rabbi during a time in history when being a Rabbi really meant something. He lived during the time of semicha, and his responses are often Rabbinic in nature. And so this begs the ...
- 11.8k
10
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3
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443
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Who is Queen Cleopatra in Sanhedrin 90b?
The Gemara in Sanhedrin 90b relates:
(Source from Sefaria.org)
(Partial Quote)
.....שאלה קליאופטרא מלכתא את ר"מ
Queen Cleopatra asked Rabbi Meir.....
My Question:
What Queen Cleopatra was this?
...
- 4,297
1
vote
1
answer
240
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the Rambam was hard of understanding [closed]
Someone told me that the Rambam when he was young was hard of understanding
Is there a reputable source confirming this?
How can I find it?
What I found so far.
לא הצטיין בשום תכונה מיוחדת. לא ...
- 7,614
4
votes
2
answers
224
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Known birthdays
In the season of my birthday, I was wondering:
Which figures, from Tanach and Sha"s, do we know the exact birthday of? I am aware of Moshe's birthday being identified as the 7th of Adar. Which other ...
- 59.1k
1
vote
1
answer
429
views
Aristotle learning Torah
I have seen from a few places which claim that they have found a letter written from Aristotle to Alexander the great . In the letter Aristotle laments about the fact that he wasted so much time on ...
- 42.7k
9
votes
1
answer
285
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What is the approximate date of the demarcation between Ashkenazim and Sephardim?
Based on this article it would seem that the transition from a unified people into two groups, Ashkenazim and Sephardim, began in the 9th century and proceeded over time. I would like to know if there ...
- 15.3k
9
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3
answers
2k
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Who is the Infamous Little Horn of Daniel 7?
"and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one,
before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots.
And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and ...
- 273
5
votes
1
answer
317
views
Problem with Likkutei Maharil
I was listening to a class by Rav Asher Weiss on asmachta and he brought three explanations for its purpose:
Ritvah - A derabannan that has a source in the torah
Tosafos and Rambam - Memorization
...
- 20.2k
8
votes
1
answer
183
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Composed with the desire of our Father in heaven
Both the sefer Ohr Sameach and Meshech Chochmah, written by Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, have on their title page the words
חובר ברצון אבינו שבשמים
(See http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=...
- 20.2k
8
votes
3
answers
11k
views
What was the pillar of stone of Seth's children mentioned by Josephus?
According to Josephus (Book 1, Chapter 2, 68-71), the family of Seth, the third son of Adam, was noted for constructing a particularly long-lasting edifice or monument.
...Now this Seth...did ...
- 1,458
1
vote
1
answer
132
views
Which Rabbi was this?
I remember reading a journal article about a modern orthodox rabbi in late 19th century America who held the position that rabbis need to try to find lenient halachik rulings to make the lives of ...
- 1,501
-1
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The Torah's perspective on waiting or patience
1) What are the virtues of learning to wait or having patience, סבלנות?
2) Is there anywhere in the Torah that shows because of lacking patience or the ability to wait, caused tragedies throughout ...
- 763
8
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Is the Book of Enoch part of Judaism?
The Book (or Books) of Enoch is a collection of works purportedly made by Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noach, before the flood. I read that they are not part of the Tanach, even though they contain ...
- 4,666
1
vote
1
answer
355
views
Numbers of Tannaim and Amoraim
How many names of Tannaim do we know?
How many names of Ammoraim do we know?
(I am asking about the names and not simply asking "how many were there" because I don't know if there were people that ...
- 9,938
6
votes
1
answer
715
views
Who Exactly Threatened to Excommunicate Ramchal?
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, known as Ramchal, was a controversial and prolific Italian philosopher and Mekubal.
According to the linked Wikipedia article, after disseminating Kabbalah in Italy, "...
- 1,629
6
votes
1
answer
826
views
How would first century Jews in Judea have reacted to the Jesus Movement's messianic claims?
My understanding is that first century Jews in Judea, Jerusalem, etc, would have known that Jesus could not possibly be the messiah, because the messiah was expected to be triumphant in life, and no ...
- 2,110
7
votes
3
answers
373
views
What was Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi's role in compiling the Mishnah?
I have always heard that Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi "compiled" the mishna. What were his roles in compiling it in the form that we currently have it? Specifically, did he perform any of these roles:
...
- 71.5k
7
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0
answers
226
views
Who came up with this story?
It says in Mekor Baruch (of Rabbi Baruch Epstein)
The Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, the Netziv, was once sitting down surrounded by several high-caliber students – avrechim versed in Torah, wise, and ...
- 40.8k
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
The Longest Pesach
There is a famous tape by Rabbi Shmuel Kunda entitled "The longest pesach" about a time when the Noda Beyehuda added on an extra day to Pesach in order to uncover a plot to poison the Jews of Prague. ...
- 2,542
3
votes
1
answer
283
views
Historical documentation that the Rambam was supported by his brother
I have heard quoted many times that the Rambam wrote his Mishneh Torah while he was being supported entirely by his brother. It was only after his brother died at sea that the Rambam, needing to ...
- 59.1k
2
votes
1
answer
182
views
Paintings and Sculptures of Rabbis Throughout the Ages [closed]
There are many paintings or sculptures of Rabbis from throughout history, like the Vilna Gaon (paintings), Maharal (statue), and Rambam (statue).
Are they accurate (or at least somewhat accurate) ...
- 1,358
1
vote
2
answers
251
views
Maskilim and Jüdischkeit
I often hear that the maskilim of the 18th and 19th centuries were, without exception, secularists and religious reformers. Is this true or were some/most of them actually religious individuals who ...
- 13.3k
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Did any of the early Rabbis encounter Mohammed?
Mohammed, the prophet of Islam, lived in Saudia Arabia, mainly in Mecca and (later) Medina. He lived from 570-632CE.
According to this wikipedia article there were Jews in Saudia Arabia at that time:
...
- 10.5k
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
When did people living for 900 years start to look old?
In the early days of the world, the standard age of living was well into the hundreds, with many people living until they were 800 or 900. Being that people lived so long, when did they start to "look ...
- 23.3k
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What does the talmud/rabbinic writing have to say about Yeshu ha-Notzri (Jesus)?
I understand that the name Jesus was not uncommon 2000 years ago, and Jewish writings about the person of historical interest to the Christian Church call him "Yeshu ha-Notzri" = "Jesus the Nazarene". ...
- 523
3
votes
2
answers
1k
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Did Moshe have a son with Ethiopian Queen prior to Exodus
According to Josephus, Moshe was a great military leader who lead in battle for Egypt when Egypt and Ethiopia was at war and Moshe married the Ethiopian Queen and had a child with her who became the ...
- 492
8
votes
4
answers
562
views
Why were there 8 kings of Edom?
Is there any symbolism or other explanation as to why there were specifically eight kings of Edom who ruled before any king in Yisrael did, like it says in Bereshis 36 (31-39)?
- 15.3k
2
votes
2
answers
2k
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Who was the wife of Levi (according to Sefer HaYashar)?
What was the name of Levi's wife?
I am specifically looking for the answer which is given in Sefer HaYashar, but I can't seem to find it. Does anyone know who Sefer HaYashar says the wife of Levi is?
- 21
5
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3
answers
296
views
Great People Not Mentioned in the Torah
It has been said that the Torah is not a history book and her words are succinct. In addition to the "obvious" people and stories/events discussed in scripture, there are many others mentioned if only ...
- 1,622
6
votes
2
answers
348
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What is known about the Sage מונבז?
מונבז is mentioned in Shabbos 68b. I know there were two Kings of this name.
What is known about the Sage of this name?
- 48.7k
20
votes
3
answers
2k
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How long did Chava (Eve) live?
The Torah tells us that Adam HaRishon lived for 930 years. Is there a source that tells us for how long Chava (Eve) lived?
I have been unable to find any source that discusses how old Chava was when ...
- 140k
3
votes
2
answers
800
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Sabbateanism and Rav Yonasan Eibshitz
Is there any real substantial evidence that Rav Yonasan Eibshitz was a Sabbatean? On what basis did Rav Yaakov Emden hound him?
- 2,542
7
votes
1
answer
370
views
How common was polygamy in Biblical times?
How prevalent was polygamy among Jews in Biblical times?
I can only think of five Jews in Tanach who had multiple wives: Avraham, Yaakov, Elkanah, David, and Shlomo (although I probably missed a few)....
- 8,313
4
votes
1
answer
109
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Who was ר"מ in Sefer Kol Bo?
Nobody knows for certain who authored Sefer Kol Bo (ספר כל-בו), and various theories exist as to who, and when, it might have been. (For a brief example of such theories, see here). Likely it was in ...
- 19.1k
0
votes
0
answers
128
views
Timing of the 2nd Beit Hamikdash's building [duplicate]
If you associate Koresh with Cyrus, Daryavesh with Darius (Cyrus's son) and Artachshasta with Xerxes, there seems to be a 166 year discrepancy between the historical time and the 420 years the Seder ...
- 1,890
5
votes
3
answers
6k
views
When in history did Purim happen?
When in history did Purim happen? I understand that there are several opinions that this is based on (who אחשורוש was, whether this was before or after the end of the exile), but I've been unable to ...
- 1,890
6
votes
3
answers
455
views
How could Yochanan Kohen Gadol abolish the wakers?
The mishnah (Maaser Sheni end of 5:15 and Sotah 48a) lists 5 edicts of Yochanan Kohen Gadol including the abolishing of the "wakers" - the singing by the Levi'im in the Beit HaMikdash of Psalm 44:24 - ...
11
votes
3
answers
620
views
How do we determine the nature of the reign of the kings when the numbers don't seem to add up?
In the book of 2 Kings, the kingdoms of Judah and Israel were separate.
In Amaziah's (Judah) 15th year, Jeroboam (Israel) began to reign. In Jeroboam's (Israel) 27th year, Azariah (Judah) began to ...
- 355