Shmaya the Nasi
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|title = Shemaya HaNasi | |title = Shemaya HaNasi | ||
|image = [[File:00000179 shmaya and avtalyon gush chalav.jpg|215px|alt=Shemaya HaNasi]] | |image = [[File:00000179 shmaya and avtalyon gush chalav.jpg|215px|alt=Shemaya HaNasi]] | ||
− | | | + | |header1 = Hebrew: |
− | | | + | |data2 = שמעיה הנשיא |
− | | | + | |header3 = Spelling: |
− | | | + | |data4 = Sh'maya, Shemaiah, Shmya, Shimaya, Shemaya |
− | | | + | |header5 = Meaning of Name: |
− | | | + | |data6 = Listen Hashem, Listen all |
− | | | + | |header7 = Description: |
− | | | + | |data8 = Nasi of Israel during Second Temple Era |
}} | }} | ||
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===Descendent of Sancherev === | ===Descendent of Sancherev === | ||
− | [[File:00000181 shmaya and avtalyon sign.jpg|thumb|165px|right|Sign for Kever Shmaya vAvtalyon.]]Shmaya was a direct descendent of Sancherev, the Assyrian ruler | + | [[File:00000181 shmaya and avtalyon sign.jpg|thumb|165px|right|Sign for Kever Shmaya vAvtalyon.]]Shmaya was a direct descendent of Sancherev, the Assyrian ruler who's army was wiped out by angels during his attempt to capture Jerusalem. Due to his hereditary background Sh'maya was unable to pronounce the letter 'Heh' and would mispronounce words that contained it, using the letter 'Alef' in its place. |
===Kabbalistic Reincarnations === | ===Kabbalistic Reincarnations === | ||
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==President of the Sanhedrin == | ==President of the Sanhedrin == | ||
− | [[File:00000186 outside kever shmaya and avtalyon.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Tomb of Shemaya and Avtalyon.]]After the death of Shimon ben Shetach, Shmaya was appointed Nasi in his place, which made him president of the Sanhedrin. His colleague Avtalyon was made Av Beis Din. Most of their leadership was during the reign of Hurkanus and Aristobulus (Hyrcanus II & Aristobulus II). Together, Shemaya and Avtalyon ran the central Beis Medrash for Torah study. To gain entrance into their Bais Medrash, each student had to pay a daily admittance fee of a half tropaika. This changed after | + | [[File:00000186 outside kever shmaya and avtalyon.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Tomb of Shemaya and Avtalyon.]]After the death of Shimon ben Shetach, Shmaya was appointed Nasi in his place, which made him president of the Sanhedrin. His colleague Avtalyon was made Av Beis Din. Most of their leadership was during the reign of Hurkanus and Aristobulus (Hyrcanus II & Aristobulus II). Together, Shemaya and Avtalyon ran the central Beis Medrash for Torah study. To gain entrance into their Bais Medrash, each student had to pay a daily admittance fee of a half tropaika. This changed after Hillel nearly froze to death trying to listen to a Torah discourse through the study hall skylight on a freezing winter night. This incident happened on Shabbos morning causing Shemaya and Avtalyon to desecrated the Shabbos to save the life of Hillel. When it became known Hillel risked his life since he was unable to afford the entrance fee, paid entry to the Beis Medrash was abolished making Torah study accessible to all. |
[[File:more.jpg|link=]] '''Read full Zissil article on the [[Avtalyon]]''' | [[File:more.jpg|link=]] '''Read full Zissil article on the [[Avtalyon]]''' | ||
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===Students, Colleagues and Successors === | ===Students, Colleagues and Successors === | ||
− | Shmaya's main students were | + | Shmaya's main students were Hillel and Shami. Leadership of Shemaya and Avtalyon lasted for a short period of six years. After Shimaya and Avtalyon passed away, the Jewish leadership was given to the Beni Besera who eventually passed it on to Hillel and Menachem. Eventually Menachem was replaced by Shami. Hillel openly declared that his superiority in Torah knowledge over the Beni Besera was due to his nullification to Shmaya and Avtalyon. |
Other Tannaim that lived during the time of Shmaya were; Akavya ben Mehallel, Admon, Channan, the Sons of Besera and Rebbe Yehuda ben Dursai. | Other Tannaim that lived during the time of Shmaya were; Akavya ben Mehallel, Admon, Channan, the Sons of Besera and Rebbe Yehuda ben Dursai. | ||
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In the Mechilta of Rebbe Yishmael, Shemaiah credits the splitting of the Yam Suf in merit of the faith that Avraham had in Hashem. | In the Mechilta of Rebbe Yishmael, Shemaiah credits the splitting of the Yam Suf in merit of the faith that Avraham had in Hashem. | ||
− | + | During the era of Shimaya and Avtalyon, Halachic controversy was basically nonexistent amongst the Jewish nation. An exception was the argument over doing Semicha on the Kurbanos during the holidays, which had arisen three generations back. Shmaya's opinion on the matter was to do Semicha. | |
− | + | ||
− | During the era of | + | |
==Kever Shemaya and Avtalyon == | ==Kever Shemaya and Avtalyon == | ||
[[File:00000189 safsufa mayan.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Mayan Safsufa.]]Sh'maya and Avtalyon are buried in the Arab populated town of Gush Chalav in Northern Israel. They are buried in the vicinity of Adarmelech and Shartzer sons of Sancherev who were blood relatives of Sh'maya and Avtalyon and were reincarnated in them as well. | [[File:00000189 safsufa mayan.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Mayan Safsufa.]]Sh'maya and Avtalyon are buried in the Arab populated town of Gush Chalav in Northern Israel. They are buried in the vicinity of Adarmelech and Shartzer sons of Sancherev who were blood relatives of Sh'maya and Avtalyon and were reincarnated in them as well. | ||
− | The | + | The Arizal used to pray at Kever Shemaya and Avtalyon with his students. Once he told his students that Shemaya and Avtalyon besieged them to pray for the life of Moshiach ben Yosef. Foolishly they did not realize that this was a reference to the Arizal himself and he passed away shortly afterwards. |
===Mikva of Shemaya and Avtalyon === | ===Mikva of Shemaya and Avtalyon === | ||
− | + | In the moshav of Safsufa, around 4 km north of Meron, exists a natural spring water Mikva that is attributed to Shemaya and Avtalyon. According to this tradition Shmaya used to immerse in the Mikva at some stage during his lifetime. | |
==More Pictures== | ==More Pictures== | ||
<gallery widths=180px heights=120px perrow=4 caption="Shemaya & Avtalyon Gallery"> | <gallery widths=180px heights=120px perrow=4 caption="Shemaya & Avtalyon Gallery"> | ||
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File:00000180 sign leading to kever shmaya and avtalyon.jpg | File:00000180 sign leading to kever shmaya and avtalyon.jpg | ||
File:00000183 inside safsufa mikvah.jpg | File:00000183 inside safsufa mikvah.jpg | ||
File:00000185 path leading to kever shemaya and avtalyon.jpg | File:00000185 path leading to kever shemaya and avtalyon.jpg | ||
File:00000176 dressing room safsufa mikva.jpg | File:00000176 dressing room safsufa mikva.jpg | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||