Hillel the Elder
 | |
| Hebrew: | |
|---|---|
| הלל הזקן | |
| Other Names: | |
| Hillel HaZaken, Hillel HaBavli, Hillel HaNasi | |
| Kever: | |
| Meron | |
| Description: | |
| Nasi and leader of Jewish Nation during 5th Zugot era, founder of the Bais Hillel school. |
Hillel Hazaken served as the Nasi of the Sanhedrin around 100 years before the destruction of the Second Temple. Shami served alongside him as Av Bais Din, together forming the final set of Zugot. Hillel was a student of Shmaya and Avtalyon. His students formed the Bais Hillel school and included Yonasan Ben Uziel, Shumel HaKaton and Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. Hillel lived to the old age of 120.
Contents |
Early Life
Bavel
Hillel was born in Bavel and came to Eretz Yisroel when he was forty years old.
Student of Shmaya and Avtalyon
One Friday Hillel could not afford the entry fee into the Beit Medrash of Shmaya and Avtalyon. He climbed on the roof so he could listen to the lecture through the skylight, where he became so observed in the Torah that he did not realize he had become covered in snow. On Shabbos morning the dimmed lighting in the studyroom led to an investigation and they found Hillel covering the opening, almost frozen to death, covered by five feet of snow. They dug him out, and placed him near a newly created fire, Shmaya and Avtalyon that Hillel was worthy to have the Shabbos desecrated for. This incident led to the abolishment of the entry fee into the Beit Medrash.
Nasi
Dynasty
Hillel the Elder began a dynasty of fourteen generations that served as Nasi.
- Hillel the Elder
- Shimon ben Hillel
- Rabban Gamliel the Elder
- Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel of the Asorah Harugay Malchus
- Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh
- Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel of Usha
- Rebbe Yehudah Hanasi
- Rabban Gamliel son of Rebbe
- Rebbe Yehuda Nessia I
- Rebbe Gamliel IV
- Rebbe Yehuda Nessia II
- Rebbe Gamliel V
- Rebbe Yehuda Nessia III
- Hillel Nesiah
Kever Hillel HaZaken
Hillel is buried along with his students in a cave in Meron under the tombs of Rabbi Yochanan Hasandlar and the Rashbi. According to tradition his Kever is located in the little sealed Kuch on the right side of the tunnel at the end of the cave. There are a number of legends regarding the mystical powers of the water found in the 'Cave of Hillel'. In 2012 local authorities sealed off the entrance of the Cave with a metal barricade preventing the public from being able to pray at this holy location. Occasionally the cave is opened up on days like Lag Baomer.
More Photos
- Kever Hillel HaZaken Photo Gallery
