Questions tagged [tannaim]
the Rabbinic sages (10-220 CE) whose views are recorded in the Mishnah
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Who was/were the leaders during the Asarah Harugei Malchus?
I know that the Asarah Harugei Malchus took place over generations. Nonetheless, who is recognized as being the original antagonist? Who is the one who went to Chazal about the claim about Yosef's ...
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What happened to Sefer Yechezkel before Chananyah ben Chizkiyah ben Guriyon?
There's a famous Gemara in Shabbos 13b:
אמר רב יהודה אמר רב: ברם זכור אותו האיש לטוב וחנניה בן חזקיה שמו, שאלמלא הוא נגנז ספר יחזקאל, שהיו דבריו סותרין דברי תורה. מה עשה? — העלו לו שלש מאות גרבי שמן, ...
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Was Eleazar ben Dama related to Dama ben Netina?
Kiddushin 31a records the story of a non-Jew named Dama ben Netina. The story of Eleazar ben Dama is recorded in a few places (Tosefta Chullin 2:22,23; Avodah Zarah 27b; Yerushalmi Avoda Zarah 2, 40d)....
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What is the flammability of shatnez?
I recently learned that linen has a quality that enflames sparks - and is historically used as tinder. On the contrary, wool is an extinguisher of flames. I found that to be intriguing since Kohanim ...
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Number of occurrences of the names of tannaim in various books
Does anyone happen to know of a place where someone has counted the occurrences of the names of the Tannaim in the different books of rabbinic literature (e.g. Mishnah, Tosefta, Sifra, Sifrei etc.)?
I'...
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List of Tannaim and Amoraim with overall summary of their approach to Torah
Has anyone put together a list of Tannaim and Amoraim with analysis from their opinions in each place that they are cited to try to build an overall picture of what their approach to Torah is/what ...
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Did Rashbi Write the Zohar?
In my experience, many religious Jews think that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai wrote the book we have today called the Zohar.
The Zohar is a Jewish work of mysticism that was published in the 13th century. ...
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What daf and exact quote is this talking about in the Rashash
BH
The Rashash on the Tosfot daf 7B dibur hamaskil VeIbait Eima brings support from a different Gemara somewhere in Brachot. What’s the exact source and lashon of this? Like where is it? In my Gemara ...
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Chain of Transmission between Nachum and Rabbi Meyasha
In the Mishnah Peah 2:6, the text seems to suggest that Nachum the scribe received teachings from Rabbi Meyasha:
"אָמַר נַחוּם הַלַּבְלָר, מְקֻבָּל אֲנִי מֵרַבִּי מְיָאשָׁא שקבל מאבא,
..."
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What is the oldest extant source which attributes Targum Pseudo-Jonathan to Yonasan Ben Uziel?
There’s an impressive list of proofs that what’s commonly called Targum Yonasan on the Chumash was not, in fact, written by Yonasan Ben Uziel.
Where did the rumor start that it was actually written ...
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Why is the Tanna - בן בג בג called בן בג בג?
In Pirkei Avos, it mentions a תנא called בן בג בג.
Why is the תנא - בן בג בג called בן בג בג?
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Why wouldn’t G-d allow the decree against the Asarah Harugei Malchus to be overturned?
In general, a bad decree from G-d can be overturned through repentance and davening, while a good one can never be revoked. (This is a major theme in the books of Yirmiya and Yonah, among others.)
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Why did the R' Akiva marry the wife of Tyrannus Rufus?
The gemara in Avodah zara 20a brings a Baraisa that says,
ואף רבי עקיבא ראה אשת טורנוסרופוס הרשע רק שחק ובכה רק שהיתה באה מטיפה
סרוחה שחק
דעתידה דמגיירא ונסיב לה בכה דהאי שופרא בלי עפרא
We know that ...
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Does the Jerusalem Talmud or Mishna speak of shepherds tending their flocks in the fields near to the second Jerusalem templeduring the winter months?
Prior to the destruction of the Temple at the hands of the Romans, I understand that sheep singled out for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple were tended by their shepherds in the fields near Jerusalem ...
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Why didn't the Tana'im or Amoa'im write a commentary on Tanach?
To the best of my knowledge the first time we have a verse by verse pshat (ie simple or basic authorial intent meaning) commentary on Tanach is from the Geonic period (even if the commentary is not on ...
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How is it concluded from Yerushalmi Shevi'it 6:1 that Rabbi Yishmael b'Rabbi Yosei was a kohen?
I heard a number of months ago that it can be concluded from Yerushalmi Shevi'it 6:1 that Rabbi Yishmael b'Rabbi Yosei was a kohen (this topic in itself is debated, see a short summary in his Hebrew ...
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What is the implication of the question “לימא כתנאי"?
The Gemoro often asks about an argument amongst Amoraim, “לימא כתנאי" Shall we say this is an argument of Tannaim?
I see two ways of understanding this statement:
1] These Amoraim are arguing on ...
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Are the stories in the Midrashim and Targumim meant to be historical? [duplicate]
The Midrashim and Targumim contain stories meant to further elaborate on the accounts in the Hebrew Bible. Are these stories meant to be historically accurate?
Further reading on this issue would be ...
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Rabbi Heiman on Rabbi Nechunyah Hagadol
Rabbi Heiman wrote on Rabbi Nechunyah Hagadol (my translation):
"In Megillah 28a it is told that Rabbi Akiva asked him [RN"H]: In the merit of which virtue were you blessed with longevity? ...
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Was Rabbi Matya ben Harash the son of a deaf-mute or is "ben Harash" just a coincidence?
Talking about the rabbi who appears in Mishna Yoma 8:6, Pirkei Avot 4:15.
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When exactly did Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus die?
In Moed Qatan 27a, a difference of opinion is brought between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua as regards the point at which mourners need to overturn their beds. The case is brought of Rabban Gamliel ...
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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?
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Dictionary of Mishnaic Hebrew (aside from Jastrow) [duplicate]
Can anyone recommend a dictionary of Mishnaic Hebrew? Jastrow is serviceable, but not great. I am looking for a better option.
Some suggestions would be helpful.
Thank you.
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Is there internal evidence within the Mishnah that Rabbi Yehudah ha-Nasi redacted it?
Without drawing upon later sources like the Gemara, Rabbi Sherira Gaon, Rashi, Maimonedes and others, is there internal evidence (or explicit claims) in the Mishnah itself that Rabbi Yehudah ha-Nasi ...
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Is Shmuel (Amora) considered a Tanna by the Jerusalem Talmud?
The Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot.9a (similarly Yevamot 9a or Sotah 16a) says it in the name of Tannayim:
"תני
יצאת בת קול ואמרה אלו ואלו דברי אלהים חיים
אבל הלכה כדברי בית הלל.
איכן יצאה בת קול רבי ...
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Why do we still not mention Rebbi Meir's name?
According to the gemarah in Horiyot 13b-14a statements made by Rebbi Meir were dubbed 'acherim' and those of Rebbi Natan were changed to 'yeish omrim'. This was done as a punishment for an attempt ...
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How was the mishna actually transmitted orally
I've recently begun a project to memorize the mishna. The technique I am using is surprisingly effective.
This came as a result of my feeling nostalgic for the days when the Oral Torah was truly oral. ...
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Yeshv'av-Chutzpit connection?
Any connection between the mishmar kehunah Yeshv'av, which was also nicknamed "Chutzpit-Shuchin" (also known as Shuchim or Shichin, the town where they settled in) (see here for example) and ...
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Who was Rav Nechunya ben HaKanah?
The Mishna Avos (3:5) writes
רַבִּי נְחוּנְיָא בֶּן הַקָּנָה אוֹמֵר, כָּל הַמְקַבֵּל עָלָיו עֹל
תּוֹרָה, מַעֲבִירִין מִמֶּנּוּ עֹל מַלְכוּת וְעֹל דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ. וְכָל
הַפּוֹרֵק מִמֶּנּוּ עֹל תּוֹרָה, ...
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Why did the title "Rav" appear after Hillel and Shammai?
IIRC, the word Rav appears in the Tanakh as an adjective ("עצום ורב" or "רב לכם בני לוי". Probably in Jonah 1:6 "רב החובל" it is a name?).
Earlier leaders (Moses, ...
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Who were Hillel's greatest students and what were they known for?
In Succah 28a, the Gemara tells us that Hillel the Elder had 80 students of whom Yochanan ben Zakai was the "least" and Yonason ben Uziel was the greatest. There, it says of Yonason ben ...
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Why is Rebbi Meir frequently quoted as "he used to say" in the Talmud?
If one has taken a 'swim' in the Talmud, it would become apparent that Rebbi Meir is often cited as "he used to say". I cannot express with certainty that it is a completely unusual ...
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Who are the first generation of tannaim?
Of all the known tannaim, how many of them were considered first generation tannaim? This link gives a list of a few first generation tannaim, but I'm sure there should be more in the list, such as ...
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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?
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Are the names of the zugot disclosed to us in other masechtot?
Am I correct in saying that the identities of the zugot are only revealed to us within masechet Pirkei Avot?
Or are the names of the zugot also disclosed to us in other masechtot of the Mishnah? If so,...
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What are the specifics of the fake Yerushalmi story?
I heard, long ago, about a mesechta (or entire seder, I can't recall which) of Yerushalmi that was fabricated. It was finally proven to be a fake when a rabbi realized that every mesechta (or seder) ...
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Are Rabbi Akiva's opinions disproportionately followed? [closed]
I understand that Rabbi Akiva was the foremost rabbinic leader of his time, and after the Bar Kochba revolt his students were the primary Tanaaim, and they also were responsible for organizing the ...
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Rabi Yochanan Ben Zakai, or Josephus?
Josephus in The War of the Jews (Book 3 - 8:9) records a story of how he meets Vespasian, tells him that he will become ruler, and Titus will take over his position. Vespasian, although sceptical at ...
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R' Yehoshua Ben Levi -- A Tanna or an Amorah?
I had always assumed that R' Yehoshua Ben Levi was an Amorah. However, we know he is quoted in the mishnah in Avos (Perek 6 Mishnah 2. Which is really a braisa, not a mishnah, but still a Tannaic ...
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What is the etymology of the name Teradion (as in R. Haninah ben Taradion)? [closed]
The name sounds Greek, and this Teradion would probably have lived in the first or second centuries under Roman occupation. That being said, since it's a Greek name, are there any other examples of ...
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Is a mishna or a baraysa more authoritative?
Often, an opinion in a baraysa (by which I mean to include tosefta and any other non-mishna text of tanaim's halachic statements) and an opinion in a mishna differ on a matter of law. Is there any ...
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Berachot 7a – Is there a connection between R. Meir and Acher?
In Berachot 7a we find the following passage:
וא"ר יוחנן משום ר' יוסי שלשה דברים בקש משה מלפני הקב"ה ונתן לו בקש שתשרה שכינה על ישראל ונתן לו שנאמר הלוא בלכתך עמנו בקש שלא תשרה שכינה על עובדי ...
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Was Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai a priest? And was he Nasi of a sanhedrin?
Was Rabban Yochanan Ben Zakkai a priest? And was he Nasi of a sanhedrin?
I ask, because I read here that he was nasi of the sanhedrin from the years 70-80 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanhedrin ...
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Why did R' Yochanan ben Zakkai ask for multiple things?
In Gittin 56b there is a conversation between Vespasian and R' Yochanan ben Zakkai. Vespasian offers to grant a wish of R' Yochanan's
אלא בעי מינאי מידי דאתן לך
R' Yochanan proceeds to ask for 3 ...
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The Tannaim and Amoraim's Intelligence
1- Do we know if any of the Tannaim or Amoraim had below average intelligence?
2- Were all of the Tannaim/Amoraim highly intelligent?
My question has to do with something I'm trying to figure out. ...
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Who was the "Tana Dvei Rabbi Yishmael"?
What are the teachings labeled "Tana Dvei Rabbi Ishmael"?
Are they Braisos or Amoraic teachings?
On one hand, on Shabbos 26b we find it arguing on Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar (a Tana).
On the other ...
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Is it mentioned anywhere in all of the Mishna or the Talmud that Paul of Tarsus was a student of Rabban Gamaliel
Is it mentioned anywhere in all of the Mishna or the Talmud that Paul of Tarsus was a student of Rabban Gamaliel?
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet ...
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Who were some of the "sages" referred to in the Mishnah?
When the Mishnah uses the term חכמים אומרים, as in the first Mishnah in Tractate Brachot, approximately how many comprised this group? Who were in this group of people? (doesn't need to be a complete ...
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Where in Shas was the psak din of Rabbi Meir vs. Rabbi Yehuda accepted?
I think I remember that, in disputes between Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda, we follow Rabbi Yehuda except in two occasions. Is this correct and where are these two instances?
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Better understanding masechtot ketanot
I am not knowledgeable about masechtot ketanot. Wikipedia writes they are essays from the Tannaitic period or later dealing with topics about which no formal tractate exists in the Mishnah. I ...
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