Ḥanina (Ḥanin) B. Pazzi:

By: Isidore Singer , S. Mendelsohn

Palestinian haggadist of the third and fourth centuries. His teachings are confined to the midrashic literature. It is suggested that he may have been the brother of the better-known amora Simon b. Pazzi; but if so, he never cites that brother. Among the comparatively few sayings known to be his is the following: "To the office of designer of the Tabernacle God appointed Bezaleel and Aholiab [Ex. xxxi. 2, 6]—the first being a member of Judah, the largest of the tribes; the second, of Dan, the smallest of the tribes—that people may learn not to slight the small, and that the greater should not be proud; great and small are alike before God" (Ex. R. xl. 4; Tan., Ki Tissa, 13). Speaking of the early motherhood of Hagar (Gen. xvi. 4) and of Lot's daughters ( ib. xix. 23 et seq. ), and comparing them with the long barrenness of Sarah, Ḥanina says, "Weeds require neither hoeing nor sowing; they spring up of themselves, and grow and thrive; while to produce wheat, how much trouble and anxiety must be endured!" (Gen. R. xlv. 4).