Tannaim
Tannaim (תנאים) is the plural term for the
Rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the
Mishnah, from approx. 70-200 CE. The period of the
Tannaim (also referred to as the
Mishnaic period) came after the period of the
Zugot ("pairs"), and before the period of the
Amoraim; lasting about 130 years.
The singular form of the word,
tanna (תנא), is an
Aramaic term for the
Hebrew word
shana, which also is the root-word of
Mishnah. The verb
shano (שנ") literally means "to repeat [what one was taught]" and is used to mean "to learn".
The Mishnaic period is commonly divided up into five periods according to generations. There are approximately 120 known
Tannaim.
The
Tannaim lived in several areas of the
Land of Israel. The spiritual center of
Judaism at that time was
Jerusalem, but after the destruction of the city and the
Second Temple, Rabbi
Yochanan ben Zakkai and his students founded a new
religious center in Yavne. Other places of Judaic learning were founded by his students in
Lod and in
Bnei Brak.
Many of the
Tannaim worked as laborers (e.g., charcoal burners, cobblers) in addition to their positions as teachers and legislators. They were also leaders of the people, and negotiators with the
Roman Empire.
The
Tannaim operated under the occupation of the Roman Empire. During this time, the
Kohanim (priests) of the temple became increasingly corrupt, many belonged to the
Sadducees, and were seen by the Jewish people as collaborators with the Romans, whose mismanagement of
Judea led to riots, revolts, and general resentment. Throughout much of the period, the office of the
Kohen Gadol (High Priest) was rented out to the highest bidder, and the priests themselves extorted as much as they could from the pilgrims who came to sacrifice at the temple.
The conflict between the high priesthood and the people led to the split between the
Sadducees and the
Pharisees. The Sadducees (of the high priesthood) were supported by the
Hasmonean royal family, and later by the Romans. The Pharisees were a more
egalitarian sect; they accepted students from all the tribes, not only the
Levites, and they also taught laws in addition to those set forth in the
Torah. These laws make up the
Mishnah, whose compilation marked the end of the period of the
Tannaim.
Up until the days of
Hillel and
Shammai (the last generation of the
Zugot), there were few disagreements among Rabbinic scholars. After this period, though, the "House of Hillel" and the "House of Shammai" represent two distinct perspectives on Jewish law, and disagreements between the two "houses" are found throughout the
Mishnah.
The Nesi'im
*
Hillel Hazaken (the elder)
*
(Rabban) Shimon, son of Hillel (nothing about him is known)
*
Rabban Gamliel Hazaken (the Elder)
*
Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel*
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai*
Rabban Gamliel of
Yavne* Rabbi
Elozer ben Azaria, who was
Nasi for a short time after
Rabban Gamliel (above) was removed from his position for a short time
*
Rabban Shimon, son of
Rabban Gamliel of Yavne
* Rabbi
Yehuda Ha-Nasi known simply as
"Rebbi"; compiled the
MishnahRabban was a higher title then
Rebbi, given to the
Nasi starting with
Rabban Gamliel
Hazaken with the sole exception of
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, the leader of the Jews in
Jerusalem during the
siege of Jerusalem, who tried to save the future of the
Jewish people by pleading with
Vespasian.
Rebbi Elozer ben Azaria who was also
Nasi, is not given this title, perhaps because he only held the position of
Nasi for a short while and it eventually reverted back to the descendants of
Hillel. Prior to
Rabban Gamliel
Hazaken, no titles were used before someones name as the
Talmud says
Gadol MiRabban Shmo (greater then the title
Rabban is his own name); therefore Hillel has no title before his name; his name in itself is his title; just like
Moses or
Abraham have no titles before their name. An addition is sometimes given after a name to denote significance or to differentiate between two people with the same name; for example
Avrohom Avinu (Abraham our father),
Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher),
Aharon Hakohen (Aaron the
Kohen),
Yosef ha'Tzaddik (Joseph the righteous),
Dovid Hamelech (David the King), Shimshon
ha'giber (Samson the strong), Ezra ha'Sofer (Ezra the scribe) and
Rabban Gamliel de'Yavne (of Yavne). Starting with
Rebbi (that is Rabbi Yehuda
Ha-Nasi), not even the
Nasi is given the title
Rabban, but instead;
Rebbi is given the lofty title
Rabbeinu Hakodosh (our holy teacher and master).
Before the destruction of the Second Temple
*
Hillel the Elder
*
Shammai*
Rabban Gamliel Hazaken (the Elder)
The generation of the destruction
*
Rabban Shimon, son of
Rabban Gamliel Hazaken (the Elder)
*
Rabban Yochanan ben ZakkaiBetween the destruction of the Temple to the revolt of Bar Kokhba
* Rabbi Yehoshua son of Hannania
* Rabbi
Eliezer ben Hyrcanus*
Rabban Gamliel of
Yavne* Rabbi Eleazar son of Arakh
*
Rabbi Akiva*
Rebbi Tarfon* Rabbi Ishmael son of Elisha
*
Rebbi Elazer ben Azaria * Rabbi Yossi the
GalileanAfter the revolt
*
Rabban Shimon, son of
Rabban Gamliel of Yavne*
Rabbi Meir* Rabbi
Shimon bar Yochai, said to have written the
Zohar* Rabbi Yossi ben
Halafta* Rabbi
Yehuda bar Iloyi* Rabbi Yossi
* Rabbi Yishmael
* Rabbi Shimon
* Rabbi Nathan
* Rabbi Chiyah
* Rabbi
Yehuda Ha-Nasi (known simply as
Rebbi); compiled the
Mishnah*
Oral law*
Amoraim*
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