Haninah ben Teradion

2nd century Jewish rabbi and teacher

Rabbinical eras

* Chazal
* Zugot
* Tannaim
* Amoraim
* Savoraim
* Geonim
* Rishonim
* Acharonim

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Haninah's martyrdom on the Knesset Menorah Imprint by Ephraim Moses Lilien depicting Haninah's martyrdom, dedicated to those who died during the 1903 Kishniev pogrom

Rabbi Haninah ben Teradion (Hebrew: חֲנִינָא בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן‎ Ḥănīnāʾ ben Təraḏyōn) or Hananiah (חֲנַנְיָה‎ Ḥănanyā) ben Teradion was a rabbi and tanna of the third generation (2nd century). He was a contemporary of Eleazar ben Perata I and of Halafta, together with whom he established certain ritual rules.[1] Known as one of the wealthiest men in Galilee, he also served as the treasurer of a fund for the poor.[2] Following the Bar Kokhba revolt, he was executed by the Romans for ignoring the ban on teaching Torah, and is considered one of the Ten Martyrs.

## Life and work

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His residence was at Sikhnin, where he directed religious affairs as well as a school. The latter came to be numbered among the distinguished academies with reference to which a baraitha says: "The saying[3] 'That which is altogether just shall you follow' may be construed, 'Follow the sages in their respective academies. ... Follow Rabbi Haninah ben Teradion in Sikhnin'".[4]

Haninah administered the communal charity funds, and so scrupulous was he in that office that once when money of his own, designed for personal use on Purim, chanced to get mixed with the charity funds, he distributed the whole amount among the poor. Eleazar ben Jacob II so admired Haninah's honesty that he remarked, "No one ought to contribute to the charity treasury unless its administrator is like Haninah ben Teradion".[5]

Comparatively few halakhot are preserved from him.[6] One of Haninah's most respected proofs regarded that the Shekhinah rests on those who study the Law.[7]

## Martyrdom

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During the Hadrianic persecutions decrees were promulgated imposing the most rigorous penalties on the observers of the Jewish law, and especially upon those who occupied themselves with the promulgation of that law. Nevertheless, Hananiah conscientiously followed his chosen profession; he convened public assemblies and taught Torah.

For this he and his wife were condemned to death, and their daughter to degradation (forced prostitution). He was wrapped in a Torah scroll and set ablaze on a bed of grass. Wet wool was placed on his chest to prolong his suffering. His disciples begged him to open his mouth so that the fire could "enter" and kill him faster, but Haninah refused. Thereupon the executioner removed the wool and fanned the flame, thus accelerating the end. Immediately afterwards, he jumped into the flame and committed suicide. It is said that as Rabbi Hananiah was burned, he claimed to see the letters on the scroll flying up to heaven.[8]

## Notable family members

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Of the surviving members of Haninah's family mentioned are two daughters: Bruriah, who became the wife of Rabbi Meir; and one who was held in a brothel, whom Rabbi Meir succeeded in rescuing.[9]

Haninah had also several sons, one of whom was rather learned. It is related that Simon ben Haninah applied to this son for information on a point of discussion, and that the latter and his sister, presumably Bruriah, furnished divergent opinions. When Judah ben Baba heard of those opinions, he remarked, "Haninah's daughter teaches better than his son."[10]

Elsewhere it is reported of a son that became a degenerate, associating with a band of listim, i.e. bandits. Subsequently, he apparently betrayed his criminal associates, who retaliated by killing him and filling his mouth with sand and gravel. Having discovered his remains, the people wished to eulogize him as a community out of respect for his father, but the latter would not permit it. [11]

## References

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1. ^ Ta'anit 2:5
2. ^ Isaac, Benjamin (1998-01-01), "Bandits in Judaea and Arabia", The Near East under Roman Rule, Brill, pp. 122–123, doi:10.1163/9789004351530_011, ISBN 978-90-04-35153-0, retrieved 2024-06-25
3. ^ Deuteronomy 16:20
4. ^ Sanhedrin 32b
5. ^ Bava Batra 10b; Avodah Zarah 17b
6. ^ Ta'anit 2:5, 16b; Rosh Hashanah 27a; Tosefta, Mikvaot 6:3; see also Yoma 78b; Menachot 54a
7. ^ Avodah Zarah 3:2
8. ^ Avodah Zarah 17b et seq.
9. ^ Avodah Zarah 18a
10. ^ Tosefta, Kelim Kamma 4:17
11. ^ Tosefta, Semachot 12:13, Eikhah Rabbah 3:6. The sand and gravel is limited to the Eikhah Rabbah telling.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Solomon Schechter; S. Mendelsohn (1901–1906). "Haninah ben Teradion". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.

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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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