Jonathan ben Uzziel
Encyclopedia
Jonathan ben Uzziel is known as the author of Targum Jonathan
. He is also said to have written a book of kabbalah
known as Megadnim. He was one of the 80 tannaim
who studied under Hillel the Elder
. His tomb is in Amuka
, Galilee
near Tzfat, Israel
. Traditionally those who are unmarried visit this location in order to be granted blessings in his honor and in his merit find a marriage partner. The Talmud in Sukkah 28a tells that while he was absorbed in studying Torah
if a bird flew over his head it would be burnt (possibly a metaphor meant to say that any scholar who wished to differ in opinion with him was incapable of such; Rashi
suggests that the Ministering Angels (Malachei HaShareis) were responsible because they longed to hear his words of Torah. Tosafot
has a dissenting opinion).
.
Zev Vilnai writes that "Rabbi Shmuel ben Shimshon
in 1210 tells about this burial place: there is a large tree next to it, and the Ishmaelites bring oil and light a candle in his honor and make vows in his honor. The location of Yonatan ben Uzziel's burial place is illustrated in a drawing in 1537 from the book "Ancestry of fathers and prophets" (Hebrew: יחוס אבות ונביאים).
Today it is common to visit the burial place on Rosh Chodesh
, the first day of the lunar month, and on 26 Sivan (the day on which he died, but visitors arrive on every day of the year. A practice that began in the 17th century was to pray at the gravesite for a good marriage partner, for children, satisfaction from one's children, a good livelihood, health and happiness. The source of this practice is not clear. Zev Vilnai, in his book "Holy Places in the Land of Israel" (Hebrew: מצבות קודש בארץ־ישראל), gives two possibilities:
In addition to these two reasons, there is a widespread claim that Jonathan be Uzziel was single or childless, so men in similar situations seek to benefit from his special powers, but nowhere in the writings of Chazal
is it stated that Jonathan ben Uzziel was single or childless.
Targum Jonathan
Targum Jonathan - otherwise referred to as Targum Yonasan/Yonatan is the official eastern targum to the Nevi'im. Its early origins, however, are western i.e. from the Land of Israel, and the Talmudic tradition attributes its authorship to Jonathan ben Uzziel...
. He is also said to have written a book of kabbalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
known as Megadnim. He was one of the 80 tannaim
Tannaim
The Tannaim were the Rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 70-200 CE. The period of the Tannaim, also referred to as the Mishnaic period, lasted about 130 years...
who studied under Hillel the Elder
Hillel the Elder
Hillel was a famous Jewish religious leader, one of the most important figures in Jewish history. He is associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud...
. His tomb is in Amuka
Amuka, Israel
Amuka is a communal settlement near Safed in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel. It belongs to the Merom HaGalil Regional Council. It is named for the Biblical city of the same name, which presumably was located near the present-day settlement....
, Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
near Tzfat, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Traditionally those who are unmarried visit this location in order to be granted blessings in his honor and in his merit find a marriage partner. The Talmud in Sukkah 28a tells that while he was absorbed in studying Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
if a bird flew over his head it would be burnt (possibly a metaphor meant to say that any scholar who wished to differ in opinion with him was incapable of such; Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
suggests that the Ministering Angels (Malachei HaShareis) were responsible because they longed to hear his words of Torah. Tosafot
Tosafot
The Tosafot or Tosafos are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes...
has a dissenting opinion).
Tomb
According to local tradition, which appears in writing for the first time in Evyatar's Scroll from the end of the 11th century, ben Uzziel's burial place is located in AmukaAmuka, Israel
Amuka is a communal settlement near Safed in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel. It belongs to the Merom HaGalil Regional Council. It is named for the Biblical city of the same name, which presumably was located near the present-day settlement....
.
Zev Vilnai writes that "Rabbi Shmuel ben Shimshon
Samuel ben Samson
Samuel ben Samson was a rabbi who lived in France and made a pilgrimage to Palestine in 1210, visiting a number of villages and cities there, including Jerusalem. Rabbi Jonathan ha Cohen, said to be "the most influential and wealthy French Jew of his time," was ben Samson's travelling companion,...
in 1210 tells about this burial place: there is a large tree next to it, and the Ishmaelites bring oil and light a candle in his honor and make vows in his honor. The location of Yonatan ben Uzziel's burial place is illustrated in a drawing in 1537 from the book "Ancestry of fathers and prophets" (Hebrew: יחוס אבות ונביאים).
Today it is common to visit the burial place on Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh or Rosh ḥodesh is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is marked by the day and hour that the new crescent is observed...
, the first day of the lunar month, and on 26 Sivan (the day on which he died, but visitors arrive on every day of the year. A practice that began in the 17th century was to pray at the gravesite for a good marriage partner, for children, satisfaction from one's children, a good livelihood, health and happiness. The source of this practice is not clear. Zev Vilnai, in his book "Holy Places in the Land of Israel" (Hebrew: מצבות קודש בארץ־ישראל), gives two possibilities:
- The practice developed from the Pseudo-Jonathan translation of the BibleTargumTaekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
on Deuteronomy 24:6, where he writes that anyone who prevents the connection between a husband and wife forfeits his portion in the world-to-come. - The practice is based on a mistaken reading of RashiRashiShlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
in Yevamot 17a s.v. "Shehakol ponim sham," where he writes in reference to a place called Harpania (Aramaic: ___) "Everyone goes there: all ineligible men (pesulim) who cannot find a woman turn and go there. And it is deeper (Amuka): and worse than Gehinnom." The words "and it is deeper (Amuka)" are the headwords to Rashi's next comment, and do not relate to his preceding comment about men going to Harpania to look for women. However, the mistaken reading connects Rashi's words to the community named Amuka.
In addition to these two reasons, there is a widespread claim that Jonathan be Uzziel was single or childless, so men in similar situations seek to benefit from his special powers, but nowhere in the writings of Chazal
Chazal
Chazal or Ḥazal is an acronym for the Hebrew "Ḥakhameinu Zikhronam Liv'rakha",...
is it stated that Jonathan ben Uzziel was single or childless.