Rabbi Josiah
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Josiah was a Tanna
of the 2nd century, the most distinguished pupil of R. Ishmael. He is not mentioned in the Mishnah
, perhaps because he lived in the south (Sanh. 88b), and his teachings were consequently unknown to the compiler of the Mishnah, Judah ha-Nasi, who lived at Tiberias and Beth-she'arim in northern Israel
. This is the explanation proposed by Z. Frankel and N. Brüll; but the fact may have been that the Mishnah of R. Meïr, which served as the basis of Rebbi's Mishnah, did not accept the development of the teachings of Ishmael as formulated by Josiah and R. Jonathan, and they were consequently omitted by Rebbi from his Mishnah (D. Hoffmann, in Berliner's Magazin, 1884, pp. 20 et seq.). Josiah is frequently mentioned in the Mekilta together with Jonathan. All their differences concerned only interpretations of Biblical passages, never halakot. During Hadrian
's persecution Josiah seems to have fled from Israel, for he was at Nisibis
, where he delivered precepts in the college of Judah ben Bathyra
(Sifre
, Num. 123; ib. Deut. 218).
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...
of the 2nd century, the most distinguished pupil of R. Ishmael. He is not mentioned in the Mishnah
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
, perhaps because he lived in the south (Sanh. 88b), and his teachings were consequently unknown to the compiler of the Mishnah, Judah ha-Nasi, who lived at Tiberias and Beth-she'arim in northern Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
. This is the explanation proposed by Z. Frankel and N. Brüll; but the fact may have been that the Mishnah of R. Meïr, which served as the basis of Rebbi's Mishnah, did not accept the development of the teachings of Ishmael as formulated by Josiah and R. Jonathan, and they were consequently omitted by Rebbi from his Mishnah (D. Hoffmann, in Berliner's Magazin, 1884, pp. 20 et seq.). Josiah is frequently mentioned in the Mekilta together with Jonathan. All their differences concerned only interpretations of Biblical passages, never halakot. During Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
's persecution Josiah seems to have fled from Israel, for he was at Nisibis
Nisibis
Nusaybin Nisêbîn) is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey, populated mainly by Kurds. Earlier Arameans, Arabs, and Armenians lived in the city. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009.-Ancient Period:...
, where he delivered precepts in the college of Judah ben Bathyra
Judah ben Bathyra
Judah ben Bathyra or simply Judah Bathyra was an eminent tanna. He must have lived before the destruction of the Temple, since he prevented a pagan in Jerusalem from partaking of the Paschal offering...
(Sifre
Sifre
Sifre refers to either of two works of Midrash halakhah, or classical Jewish legal Biblical exegesis, based on the biblical books of Bamidbar and Devarim .- The Talmudic-Era Sifre :The title "Sifre debe Rab" is used by R. Hananeel on Sheb. 37b, Alfasi on Pes...
, Num. 123; ib. Deut. 218).
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Weiss, Dor, ii.114;
- Z. Frankel, Hodegetica in Mischnam, pp. 146-149, Leipzig, 1859;
- W. Bacher, Ag. Tan. ii.351-364.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia article for Rabbi Josiah, by Isidore SingerIsidore SingerIsidore Singer was an editor of the Jewish Encyclopedia and founder of the American League for the Rights of Man.-Biography:...
and Jacob Zallel LauterbachJacob Zallel LauterbachJacob Zallel Lauterbach was an American Judaica scholar and author who served on the faculty of Hebrew Union College and composed responsa for the Reform movement in America. He specialized in Midrashic and Talmudical literature, and is best known for his landmark critical edition and English...
.