Eleazar Chisma

Rabbinical eras

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* Zugot
* Tannaim
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* Savoraim
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* Rishonim
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Eleazar Chisma (Ḥisma; Hebrew: אלעזר חסמא, "Eleazar Chasma", or אלעזר בן חסמא, "Eleazar ben Chasma") was a tanna (sage) of the second and third generations (2nd century). He was a disciple of Joshua ben Hananiah and Gamaliel II.[1]

## Etymology

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See also: Eleazar ben Shammua § His nickname

He is sometimes referred to as "Eleazar Chisma" and sometimes as "Eleazar ben Chisma";[2] however, the insertion of the word "ben" seems justifiable.[3] "Ḥisma" is not an adjectival cognomen (like the similar nickname acquired by Eleazar ben Shammua), but an indication of location, the place probably being Hizma;[4] hence "ben Ḥisma" means "son of [= "native of"] Ḥisma".[5]

## Teachings

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Several halakhot are preserved under Eleazar's name in the Mishnah.[6] He takes part in halakhic disputes with Eleazar ben Azariah and Rabbi Akiva[7] and with Eliezer ben Jacob I.[8] To him is ascribed the economic rule that the employee is not entitled to a proportion of his employer's produce greater than the amount of his wages.[9]

Some aggadot also are ascribed to him.[10] Together with Rabbi Joshua, he gives an allegorical reason for why Amalek's attack on Israel[11] occurred when it did. Citing Job 8:11, "Can a rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?" he remarks, "Even so is it impossible for Israel to flourish without the Law; and since they had neglected the Law,[12] an enemy was ordered out to war against them."[13] Elsewhere, he cites Isaiah 43:22, "But thou hast not called on me, O Jacob," and applies it to those who are not devout in their prayers, but communicate with their neighbors by sign language while reciting the Shema.[14]

## Scientific knowledge

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Not only was Chizma possessed of wide rabbinic learning, but he was also an adept in the sciences. Joshua, introducing him and Johanan ben Nuri to the notice of Patriarch Gamaliel II, remarked of them that they could approximately calculate the number of drops contained in the ocean.[15] As they were very poor, Gamaliel appointed them to remunerative offices in the academy.[16] Probably it was here—because the academicians sought from him instruction in secular science—that Eleazar remarked, "The laws concerning birds' nests and those concerning the incipient uncleanness of women are elements of the Law, while astronomy and geometry are only condiments of wisdom".[17]

## References

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1. ^ Ḥagigah 3a; Horayot 10a
2. ^ see Geiger, "Schriften," iv. 343, and Strack, "Einleitung in den Thalmud," 2d ed., p. 81
3. ^ Jewish Encyclopedia, ELEAZAR (ELIEZER) B. HISMA
4. ^ See Luncz, "Jerusalem," vi. 67; Selbie, J. A. (1898). "Azmaveth". In James Hastings (ed.). A Dictionary of the Bible. Vol. I. p. 208.
5. ^ Compare Rosh Hashana 17a; Megillah 19a; Kiddushin 2:3
6. ^ Terumot 3:5; Bava Metzia 7:5
7. ^ Negaim 7:2; Sifra, Tazria', 1:2
8. ^ Pesachim 32a; Yalḳ., Leviticus 638
9. ^ Bava Metzia 7:5, 92a; Sifre, Deuteronomy 266
10. ^ Mekhilta, Beshallaḥ Vayasa, 4; Mekhilta, Amalek, 1; Yoma 19b
11. ^ Exodus 17:8 et seq.
12. ^ see Exodus 17:1-7
13. ^ Compare Yalḳ. to Exodus l.c., § 262; anonymous in Yalḳ. to Job l.c., § 904
14. ^ Compare Yalḳ. to Isaiah l.c., § 318
15. ^ Horayot 10a
16. ^ Sifre, Deuteronomy 14; Yalḳ. Deuteronomy 902; Horayot 10a
17. ^ Pirkei Avot 3:18; Avot of Rabbi Natan 27:2

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Schechter, Solomon; Mendelsohn, S. (1903). "Eleazar (Eliezer) b. Hisma". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 5\. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 99. It has the following bibliography:

* Bacher, Ag. Tan. i. 374;
* Brüll, Mebo a-Mishnah, i. 149;
* Frankel, Darke a-Mishnah, p. 134;
* Geiger, Schriften, iv. 343;
* Heilprin, Seder a-Dorot, ii., s.v.;
* Weiss, Dor, ii. 122;
* Zacuto, Yuḥasin, ed. Filipowski, p. 41b.

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Tannaim

Last Generation of Zugot Era|

* Hillel the Elder
* Shammai
* Houses of Hillel and Shammai
* Bnei Bathyra
* Menahem
* Hananiah ben Hezekiah ben Garon
* Simeon ben Hillel

First Generation|

* Gamaliel I, the Elder
* Shimon ben Gamliel (I)
* Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen
* Yohanan ben Zakkai
* Jonathan ben Uzziel
* Baba ben Buta
* Hanina ben Dosa
* Hanina Segan ha-Kohanim
* Abba Saul ben Batnit
* Admon
* Dosa ben Harkinas
* Judah ben Bathyra
* Eliezer ben Jacob I
* Nahum the Mede

Second Generation|

* Gamaliel II
* Joshua ben Hananiah
* Eliezer ben Hurcanus
* Eleazar ben Arach
* Nehunya ben HaKanah
* Nachum Ish Gamzu
* Abba Hilkiah
* Rabbi Zadok
* Akabia ben Mahalalel
* Simeon HaPakoli
* Shmuel ha-Katan

Third Generation|

* Rabbi Akiva
* Rabbi Tarfon
* Judah ben Bava
* Rabbi Ishmael
* Eleazar ben Azariah
* Jose the Galilean
* Eliezer ben Jose
* Haninah ben Teradion
* Eleazar ben Perata I
* Johanan ben Baroka
* Simeon ben Zoma
* Simeon ben Azzai
* Onkelos
* Hanina ben Antigonus
* Hanina ben Hakinai
* Yochanan ben Nuri
* Eleazar Chisma
* Elisha ben Abuyah
* Rabbi Ilai I
* Eleazar of Modi'im
* Halafta
* Haninah ben Ahi R. Joshua
* Abtolemus
* Jose ben Kisma
* Jeshbab the Scribe
* Aquila of Sinope
* Johanan ben Torta
* Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota
* Matteya ben Heresh
* Hanan the Egyptian
* Simeon the Yemenite
* Abba Jose ben Hanan
* Judah ben Dama

Fourth Generation|

* Simeon ben Gamaliel II
* Judah bar Ilai
* Jose ben Halafta
* Shimon ben Halafta
* Rabbi Jonathan
* Rabbi Meir (and wife Bruriah)
* Shimon bar Yochai
* Eleazar ben Shammua
* Rabbi Nehemiah
* Rabbi Nathan
* Joshua ben Karha
* Abba Saul
* Johanan HaSandlar
* Pinchas ben Yair
* Simeon Shezuri
* Hananiah ben Akavia
* Eliezer ben Jacob II

Fifth Generation|

* Judah haNasi (Judah I)
* Huna Kamma
* Jose ben Judah
* Ishmael ben Jose
* Eleazar ben Simeon
* Simeon ben Eleazar
* Eleazar ha-Kappar
* Symmachus ben Joseph
* Issi ben Judah
* Bar Kappara
* Jose ben Zimra
* Levi ben Sisi
* Rabbi Bana'ah
* Simeon ben Menasya
* Yadua the Babylonian
* Joshua ben Levi
* Abba Kohen Bardela

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