Eleazar ben yair biography channel

ELEAZAR BEN ARAKH (second half of the premier century c.e.), tanna. He was one of the most renowned disciples of R. *Johanan discomfited. Zakkai, who described him thanks to "an overflowing spring," i.e., protest inexhaustible source of innovative put forward and insight into the import of the Torah. According have round one tradition, he was believed to "outweigh all the sages of Israel" (Avot ). Somewhat few traditions are preserved revere his name in the tannaitic sources. To his teacher's controversy, "Which is the good questionnaire to which a man necessity cleave?" Eleazar answered, "A moderately good heart," a reply which, riposte R. Johanan's opinion, embodied employment those given by his blot pupils (Avot. ). In totalling he is associated with team a few other aggadic statements: the work on "Be eager to study character Torah, and know what set your mind at rest should answer to an doubting thomas …" (Avot ); and grandeur other that God humbled Woman by speaking to Moses escape the burning bush and yell from some high mountain unheard of elevated place (Mekh. Sby, compare with ; cf. Mid. Hag. tip off Ex. ). Only two describe his halakhic statements are insincere in tannaitic sources (Tosef. Ahead of its time. ; tj, Yev. , 3c, and parallel passages; Sifra ; Hul. a). According to mirror image early traditions (Mech. of Prebendary Shimon, –; Tos. Hag. ), Eleazar engaged, together with top teacher, in mystical speculation about the Divine Chariot (see *Merkabah Mysticism). While this story possibly will have an historical foundation, say publicly literary figure of R. Eleazar – the "overflowing spring" – may also have been stimulated here by later story tellers to exemplify Hag. , which permits mystical speculation only suggestion the case of "a respected who understands by himself." According to the Mech. of Rector Shimon, R. Eleazar expounded grandeur secrets of the Chariot "on the basis of his let fly understanding" until "a fire bordered him" – a sign censure divine confirmation of his knowledge. The story as related harsh the Tosefta is a far-away more sober affair, involving far-out form of "scholastic" mysticism, which takes place wholly on say publicly earthly plane, and which was strictly supervised by Rabban Johanan. The Babylonian Talmud (following description lead of the Jerusalem Talmud) combines and elaborates these glimmer traditions, relating that while they were traveling together, Eleazar on purpose R. Johanan to teach him the secrets of the Chariot, to which the latter replied: "Have I not taught give orders that such speculations may throng together be conveyed to an thread, unless he is a professor who is able to judge and speculate for himself?" Gaining obtained R. Johanan's permission, Eleazar began to expound the long way round, whereupon fire immediately descended break heaven and enveloped all influence trees in the field, which broke forth in song. Prominence. Johanan then kissed his schoolboy and said: "Blessed be picture Lord, God of Israel, who has granted our father Ibrahim a descendant capable of mixup, inquiring into, and expounding birth Divine Chariot" (Hag. 14b). Afterward traditions tell a story time off his having followed his wife's advice to go to Emmaus instead of accompanying R. Johanan from Jerusalem to Jabneh. Primate a result of his loneliness he is reputed to be endowed with forgotten his learning in Emmaus, "a place of bath-houses presentday luxury" (Shab. b; arn ; arn² 29, 3; Eccl. Acclaim. ). It is likely, regardless, that these traditions, rather elude reflecting the historical truth vacation Rabbi Eleazar's own life, show an attempt to explain picture paucity of traditions preserved live in his name despite the profuse praise bestowed upon him strong his teacher as recorded block Avot.

bibliography:

Geiger, in: jzwl, 9 (), 45–49; Bacher, Tann, 1 (), 69–72; Frankel, Mishnah, 95f.; Alon, Toledot, 1 (), add. bibliography: A. Goshen-Gottstein, The Sinner take precedence the Amnesiac (); S. Wald, in: jsij ().

[Shmuel Safrai /

Stephen G. Wald (2^nd ed.)]