Johanan HaSandlar

Rabbinical eras

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

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Tomb of Johanan HaSandlar, Meron, Israel

Johanan HaSandlar (lit. "Johanan the Shoemaker" or "Johanan the Sandalmaker", Hebrew: יוחנן הסנדלר; alternatively "Johanan the Alexandrian") was a rabbi who lived in the second century (fourth generation of tannaim).

## Biography[edit]

He was a great-grandson of Gamaliel, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin; he also purportedly traced his ancestry back to David.[1] Rashi, the great medieval commentator, was a 33rd-generation descendant of Rabbi Yochanan.

The name "HaSandlar" may imply that Yohanan earned his living as a shoemaker, but it could also indicate that he was a native of Alexandria in Roman Egypt.[2]

He was one of the main students of Rabbi Akiva and a contemporary of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.[3]

Once, he went with several colleagues to the Valley of Rimmon to institute a leap-year. Rabbi Meir had just cited an opinion which he ascribed to Akiba, but the authenticity of which Johanan denied, adding, "I have waited on R. Akiba standing [by his side as an advanced student] longer than you did sitting [as a mere hearer]." The learned company took umbrage at this derogatory remark, and murmured, "Johanan ha-Sandalar is a true Alexandrian [given to boasting]." The incident, however, ended in reconciliation, and the disputants did not leave the session without kissing each other.[4] Because he is called here "a true Alexandrian," it is assumed that he was a native of Alexandria.

Once, he once exposed himself to great danger to obtain an authoritative halachic decision. During the Hadrianic persecutions, when many rabbis had been put to death for teaching Judaism, Rabbi Akiva was imprisoned and awaiting his doom at the command of Rufus. A marital question agitated the rabbis, and Johanan undertook to procure the closely guarded Akiva's advice upon it. Disguised as a peddler, he offered some goods for sale near the prison: "Who wants needles? Who wants hooks? How about private halitzah?" Akiba, looking out through an aperture, said in reply, "Do you have spindles? Do you have kasher (= "valid")?"[5]

At one time during the persecutions, Johanan and Eleazar ben Shammua left Palestine, intending to betake themselves to Judah ben Bathyra in Nisibis; but they did not carry out their intention. By the time they arrived at Sidon they felt too homesick to proceed any farther, and returned.[6]

He died on the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Tammuz (the same yahrzeit as that of Rashi), and was buried 200 meters from the tomb of Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, now located in Israel.

## Teachings[edit]

His halachic teachings are sometimes cited in the Mishnah,[7] and Simeon ben Gamaliel II reports two halakhot from him.[8]

### Quotes[edit]

* "Every assembly that is for the sake of Heaven will survive; but if it is not for the sake of Heaven, it will not survive."[9]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Rabbi Yehiel Ben Shlomo Heilprin - Later Achronim
2. ^ Adin Steinsaltz (23 November 1993). The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition : Tractate Ketubot. Random House. p. 88\. ISBN 978-0-679-42694-3. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
3. ^ Genesis Rabbah 61:3; Ecclesiastes Rabbah 11:6; compare Yevamot 62b
4. ^ Yerushalmi Hagigah 3 78d; see Rapoport, "'Erek Millin," p. 102a
5. ^ Yerushalmi Yevamot 12 12d
6. ^ Sifre Deuteronomy 80
7. ^ Yevamot 12:5; Ketuvot 5:4; Kelim 5:5
8. ^ Tosefta Kelim Kamma 4:2,5
9. ^ Pirkei Avot 4:14; compare Avot of Rabbi Natan 40 [ed. Schechter, pp. 64b, 65a]

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "JOHANAN HA-SANDALAR". The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. It has the following bibliography:

* Bacher, Ag. Tan. ii. 265;
* Brüll, Mebo ha-Mishnah, i. 198;
* Frankel, Darke ha-Mishnah, p. 175;
* Grätz, Gesch. 2d ed., iv. 177, 186;
* Weiss, Dor, ii. 166;
* Zacuto, Yuḥasin, p. 47a.

## External links[edit]

* Photo of Rabbi Yochanan's grave in Meron

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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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