Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai

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===Erev Shabbos===
 
===Erev Shabbos===
 
Each Friday, his students would bring Rebbe Yehuda a large basin of hot water. He would then rinse his face, hands and feet and wrap himself in sheets that had Tzitzis on their edges. Upon absorbing the holy energy of Shabbos, Rebbe Yehuda would gain the appearance of a G-dly angel.
 
Each Friday, his students would bring Rebbe Yehuda a large basin of hot water. He would then rinse his face, hands and feet and wrap himself in sheets that had Tzitzis on their edges. Upon absorbing the holy energy of Shabbos, Rebbe Yehuda would gain the appearance of a G-dly angel.
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===Tisha Bav===
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On the evening proceeding the 9th of Av his students would bring Rebbe Yehuda a 'Seudat Hamafseket' composed of only dry bread and salt. He would then sit down in the lowest place of the house, between the oven and the stove, eat the bread and drink water and appear as if his dead relative was laying before him.
  
 
==Tana==
 
==Tana==

Revision as of 19:39, 18 July 2013

Rebbe Yehudah bar Ilai
Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai
Part of Zissil Projects:
P00001-kivrei-tzadikim.gif
Hebrew:
רבי יהודה בר אלעאי
Other Names:
Rosh HaMidabrim
Spelling:
Judah bar Ilai, Rebbe Yehudah ben Ilay, Iloy, Eloy
Hillula:
14th of Iyyar
Kever:
Ein Zeitim
Description:
Fourth generation Tana and most frequently mentioned sage in the Mishnah.

Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai was a fourth generation Tana and is the most frequently mentioned Sage in the Mishnah. A student of Rebbe Akiva, he was also one of the five student ordained by Rebbe Yehuda ben Baba as he sacrificed his life. Rebbe Yehudah bar Ilai lived a most of his life in complete poverty. As a result of the same incident that sent Rebbe Shimon bar Yochi into hiding, Rabbi Yehuda was appointed by the Romans as the initiating speaker at all Rabbinic gatherings, for having praised them.

Contents

Life

Rabbi Yehuda was born in the city of Usha, in the lower Galilee, east of Chaifa to the Tana Rabbi Ilai whose family originated from Bavel.

Gathering of Usha

After the death of Hadrian and the easing of the Roman decrees the leading Sages of Israel gathered in Usha to reconvene. Extra honor was given to Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai since he was native resident of the city.

Poverty

Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai lived his life in poverty. His students were also poor and sometimes, six of them had to share one covering to keep them warm as they studied Torah. So poor was Rebbe Yehuda that when his wife finally was able to buy material and sew a coat, they both had to share it, each leaving the home at different times. When Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai would put on the coat he would make a blessing; 'Baruch ShAsani Meil' - 'Blessed is Hashem for giving me a coat', a blessing that he innovated due to his gratitude for owning a coat.

Once, the Nasi Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel decreed a day of prayer and fasting. Rabbi Yehuda was unable to attend the gathering since he had no robe to wear at the time. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel sent him a robe as a gift but Rabbi Yehuda refused to take it. Instead he lifted the mat upon which he sat and showed the messenger how underneath it lay many golden coins. He then said "See how much wealth I have but I do not wish to make use of it in This World". Although the appearance of the gold coins under his mat was a miracle, Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai was showing that if he desired money he could easily get it.

Head Speaker

Erev Shabbos

Each Friday, his students would bring Rebbe Yehuda a large basin of hot water. He would then rinse his face, hands and feet and wrap himself in sheets that had Tzitzis on their edges. Upon absorbing the holy energy of Shabbos, Rebbe Yehuda would gain the appearance of a G-dly angel.

Tisha Bav

On the evening proceeding the 9th of Av his students would bring Rebbe Yehuda a 'Seudat Hamafseket' composed of only dry bread and salt. He would then sit down in the lowest place of the house, between the oven and the stove, eat the bread and drink water and appear as if his dead relative was laying before him.

Tana

Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai is the most commonly mentioned Tana in the Mishna, Safra and Tosefta where he is called 'Rebbe Yehuda'. He is mentioned in over 600 Mishnayos, often multiple times in each, almost double the amount of any other Tana. Any time Rebbe Yehuda argues with Rebbe Meir or Rebbe Shimon, the Halacha is established in his favor.

Chasid

Whenever a tale is given in the Talmud about a Chasid (extremely righteous individual) without giving his name, it is referring to either Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai or Rabbi Yehuda be Bava.

Bringer of Peace

A man once got angry at his wife for burning his food. He made a vow disassociating her unless she got Rebbe Yehuda and Rebbe Shimon to eat the dish. Rebbe Yehuda agreed to taste the dish despite the humiliation, saying he was no better then the Hashem who was willing to have his name erased in the waters of the Sotah to bring peace between husband and wife. Rebbe Shimon on the other hand refused, in order to uphold the respect the Sages and so people would abstain from making vows.

Teachers

Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai's main teachers were Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarfon. In his youth he studied under his father who passed down to him the Torah of his master Rebbe Eliezer ben Hurkanes. Rabbi Yehuda also studied somewhat under all the Sages of Yavneh including; Rebbe Eliezer ben Hurkanes, Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah, Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya, Rabbi Yossi Haglili, Rabbi Yishmoel and Abba Tzydon, later passing down some of their teachings.

Rabbi Tarfon

Rabbi Yehuda was a student of Rabbi Tarfon since his youth and served him for a few years. There are a number of stories in the Talmud about their relationship. Rabbi Tarfon liked his student even calling him at some points 'my son' and presenting him a stick that he used as a Cohen in the purification ritual of three leapers.

Once Yehuda bar Nechenia triumphed over Rabbi Tarfon as he delivered his discourse and his face glowed with pride. Rabbi Akiva who saw this lack of respect for the great elder Rabbi Tarfon, exclaimed his doubts about Yehuda bar Nechenia living much longer. Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai who witnessed this event came back a few months later during Shevuot and inquired about Yehuda bar Nechenia to find out the outcome of this incident, and sure enough he had died.

Rabbi Akiva

After the passing of his 24,000 students, Rabbi Akiva gathered Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Elazer ben Shmua who were spreading Torah in Southern Israel as the time. He then placed all his energy to transmit his Torah to these 5 Sages, who then revived and saved the Torah from becoming extinct in Eretz Yisroel due to the harsh Roman decrees.

Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava

Friends

Friends of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai included Rabbi Shimon bar Yochi, Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta and Rabbi Meir.

Students

Students of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai included Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochi, Rabbi Yishmoel son of Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta and Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi.

Teachings

Avoid Laxity While Studying

Be cautious with your learning and study with depth and detail since a lack of depth during learning can lead you to accidentally issue false Halachic rulings which will then be considered as if it was done maliciously. (Masechet Avos)

Kever Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai

Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai is buried in a cave located in Ein Zeitim, Northern Israel, around 3 kilometers Northwest of Safed. Above the cave a Beis Medrash was built, which contains stairs leading down to the cave. Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai is buried on the left side of the cave and his students or family are buried on the right side. A separate women's section contains a Tzion which was the outside of the original structure built over the cave. His father Rabbi Ilai is buried in a nearby cave across the road. In the vicinity are the Kivarim of Rabbi Cruspedi the Tana, Rabbi Yossi Saragossi, Rabbi Yochanan ben Baroka and possibly Rabbi Yitzchak HaLavan.

Burial of Jewish Human Soap

After the Holocaust, part of the human soap created from the body fat of Jews by the accursed Nazis was recovered and was brought to burial inside the cave.

Hillulah of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai

The Yortzite of Rebbe Yehuda bar Illai is celebrated on the 14th of Iyyar, Pesach Shani. Although the exact date of the hillula is unknown, this date was chosen due to its proximity to Lag Baomer when many pilgrims traveled up North each year for the Hillula of the Rashbi. This is the same date chosen for the Hillula of the Tana Rebbe Meir.

Directions

Geographic Coordinates

  • Latitude: 32.984593
  • Longitude: 35.490523

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