Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai

{{Infobox
|title = Rebbe Yochanan ben Zakai
|image        = [[File:00000888 kever rabbi yochanan ben zakkai.jpg|215px|alt=Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai]]
|header1 = Part of Zissil Projects:
|data2  = {{Project Kivrei Tzadikim}}
|header3 = Hebrew:
|data4  = רבי יוחנן בן זכאי
|header5 = Spelling:
|data6  = Johanan, Zaki, Zakai, Zakkai, Zachai, Zaccai
|header7 = Other Names:
|data8  = Ribaz, Johanan ben Zakai
|header9 = Kever:
|data10 = Tiberius, Israel
|header11 = Description:
|data12 = A first generation Tana and leader of the Jewish Nation at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple.
}}

'''Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai''' was a student of [[Hillel the Elder]]. After the execution of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel he succeeded him as Nasi. Foreseeing the upcoming Roman destruction, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai founded the Yavneh academy a few years before the destruction of the Temple. During the siege on Yerushalaim, Rabbi Yochanan favored a peaceful resolution with the Romans but was held back by the Biryonim. [[Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya|Rabbi Yehoshua]] and Rabbi Eliezer, his two main students managed to smuggle him out of the city, while feigning death, where he was able to meet up with Vespasian but was unsuccessful in saving the city.

==Student of Hillel==
[[Hillel the Elder]] had many students which were led by a group of 80 elite students of which [[Yonasan Ben Uziel]] was the highest and Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai was the lowest.

==Knowledge==
Having been the lowest of Hillel's group of 80 leading students, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's knowledge is given as an example to show the level of the remaining students and the stature of the Tanaim in general. It was said that he did not leave unturned Scripture, Mishna, Talmud, laws and narratives, details of the Torah and details of the Sages, comparisons and cross-references, astronomical and mathematical calculations, speech of the ministering angels and the speech of demons and the speech of palm trees, parables of launderers and parables of foxes, large matters and small matters. Large matters – the workings of the Divine chariot, and small matters – the discussions of [[Abaye|Abaye]] and [[Rava the Amora|Rava]].

'''Mikra''' - Verses of the Tanach

'''Mishna''' - Teaching that encompassing what eventually became formulated as the written Mishna.

'''Talmud''' - Logical arguments, deducibles, theories, explanations and expansions on the base teachings of what were to become the Mishna. These were all applied by the Tanim to the teachings of their masters. Much of these were forgotten over the generations since they were not written down and were reestablished by the Amoraim through their analysis of the Mishna, the part of the Oral Torah that was transcribed and formulated.

'''Halachos''' - All the instances of 'Halacha L'Moshe MeSeni'

'''Agados''' - Homiletical interpretation and expansions of the Torah, many of which were later included in the various Midrashim.

'''Dikdukay Torah''' - Halachos and teachings that could be derived from words in the Torah that have missing or additional letters.

'''Dikdukay Sofrim''' - Laws and decrees established by various Sages over the years to distance people from committing Biblical transgressions.

'''Kalim, Chamurim and Gezerah Shava''' - Teaching derived from comparisons (Kal VaChomer) and cross-references (Gezerah Shava).

'''Tikufos''' - Mysteries of the Jewish calendar involving the movements of the sun and the moon used for establishing the new month and leap years.

'''Gimatriyos''' - Mathematical calculations based on the numerical equivalence of the Hebrew letters as well as more advanced systems such as Roshi Tevos and Chilufay Osios, one of which is the At Bash system.

'''Mishalos Kovsim''' - Parables of launderers used to transmit deep wisdom dressed in analogy.

'''Mishalos Shualim''' - Parables of foxes used to transmit deep wisdom dressed in analogy.

'''Sichas Malachi HaShares''' - Names of the angles as well as their positions, powers and responsibilities, what roots they eminent from, their manifestations in the physical world and how to bind them by oath to manipulate nature.

==Kever Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai==
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai is buried in the city of Tiberias, near the Kevarim of the Shela and the Rambam. According to some opinions his students Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkanus, [[Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel|Rabbi Shimon ben Nitanel]] and [[Rabbi Yossi Hakohen|Rabbi Yossi HaKohen]] are buried next to him as well the Amaroim Rav Ami and Rav Asi.

==More Photos==
<gallery widths=180px heights=120px perrow=4 caption="Kever Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai Photo Gallery">

File:00000889 kever rebbe yochanan ben zakki tveria.jpg
File:00000890 students of rabbi yochanan ben zakkai.jpg

</gallery>

{{Kivrei Tzadikim}}

[[Category:Tannaim]]
[[Category:Tzadikim]]
[[Category:Kivray Tzadikim]]