Rabbi Jonah
Rabbi Jonah | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Talmudist, Rector of the academy at Tiberias |
| Years active | 4th century |
| Known for | Leading rabbinical authority in the 4th amoraic generation, paternal care for pupils, miraculous efficacy of prayers |
| Notable work | Rector of the academy atTiberias |
| Rabbinical eras |
|---|
RabbiJonah(Hebrew:רבי יונה) was aPalestinianamoraof the 4th century, the leading rabbinical authority in the 4th amoraic generation.
Biography[edit]
WithJose bar Zevida,his early schoolmate and lifelong colleague and business partner, he studied underZe'era IandRav Ela.[1]When, as young men, they called onAbbahuto express their sympathy with him in his bereavement, he treated them as prominent scholars.[2]But Jonah's special master wasRav Jeremiah.[3]From these masters and others, the youths acquired a thorough familiarity with the traditions, and gradually rose from pupils to fellows. Thus, it is said, "Haggai opened the discourse, and Jonah and Jose closed it".[4]
Finally they succeeded to the rectorate of the academy atTiberias.In his office Jonah was distinguished by his paternal care for his pupils, to whom he gave both advice and material support.[5]According to the halakhic requirement he gave away the tithe of his income, but to those who studiedhalachah,not topriestsorLevites,deriving his authority from IIChronicles31:4.[6]
When he discovered a worthy man who was poor, he would aid him in such a way as not to hurt his self-respect. "I understand," he would say to him, "that you have fallen heir to an estate" or "that your debtors will soon pay you; borrow some money of me, which you may repay when you come into possession of your fortune." As soon as the loan had been accepted, he would relieve the borrower from his promise by telling him, "This money is yours as a gift." This procedure he regarded as suggested byPsalms:"Blessed is he that considers [Hebr. משכיל =" is thoughtful towards "] the poor".[7]
Jonah also enjoyed a certain respect among theRomans.[8]He was included among those styled ( "the mighty ones of the land of Israel" ), because, the Rabbis explained, of the efficacy of his prayers in times of drought. The following miracle is related of him: Once, onShabbat,fire broke out on his premises. ANabateanwhose property adjoined Jonah's attempted to extinguish it, but Jonah would not permit him thus to profane the Sabbath. "Do you rely on your good luck?" mockingly asked the Nabatean, to which Jonah replied, "Yes"; whereupon the fire was quenched.[9]
As rectors of the academy at Tiberias, Jonah and Jose had many disciples, some of whom became leaders in the next generation, and spread and perpetuated their master's doctrines. Jonah left a worthy son and successor in the person ofMani II.
References[edit]
- ^Bekhorot30a;YerushalmiTerumot2 41d
- ^YerushalmiSanhedrin6 23d
- ^YerushalmiHallah1 57c, 2 58b
- ^YerushalmiRosh Hashana2 58b
- ^YerushalmiBeitzah1 60c
- ^YerushalmiMa'aser Sheni5 56b
- ^Psalms41:2 [A. V. 1]; YerushalmiPeah8 21b;Midrash Tehillimto passage
- ^YerushalmiBerachot5 9a;Ta'anit23b
- ^YerushalmiYoma8 45b
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Singer, Isidore;et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Jonah".The Jewish Encyclopedia.New York: Funk & Wagnalls.It has the following bibliography:
- Bacher, Ag. Pal. Amor. iii. 220-231;
- Frankel, Mebo, p. 98a;
- Halevy, Dorot ha-Rishonim, ii. 183b;
- Weiss, Dor,iii. 110.