Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah
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|title = Rebbe Eleazar ben Azariah | |title = Rebbe Eleazar ben Azariah | ||
|image = [[File:00000628 kever rabbi eleazar ben azaria.jpg|215px|alt=Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah]] | |image = [[File:00000628 kever rabbi eleazar ben azaria.jpg|215px|alt=Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah]] | ||
| − | | | + | |header1 = Hebrew: |
| − | | | + | |data2 = רבי אלעזר בן עזריה |
| − | | | + | |header3 = Spelling: |
| − | | | + | |data4 = Elazer, Elazar, Eleazer, Azarya, Azaryah |
| − | | | + | |header5 = Other Names: |
| − | | | + | |data6 = Eleazar Hanasi, |
| − | | | + | |header7 = Meaning of Name: |
| − | | | + | |data8 = G-D helped, G-D help |
| − | | | + | |header9 = Description: |
| − | + | |data10 = Second generation Tana from a priestly family who temporarily served as Nasi. | |
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| − | + | Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was a second / third generation Tana who was temporarily appointed as Nasi when Rabbi Gamliel was expelled from his position. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was a Kohena and tenth generation from Ezra Hasofer. Well known for his role early in the Pesach Hagadah. | |
==His Father Azariah== | ==His Father Azariah== | ||
| − | [[File:00000626 tomb of rabbi eleazar ben azariah.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Kever Rabbi Eleazar.]] Rabbi Eleazar was born a few years before the destruction of the Second Temple to | + | [[File:00000626 tomb of rabbi eleazar ben azariah.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Kever Rabbi Eleazar.]]Rabbi Eleazar was born a few years before the destruction of the Second Temple to Rabbi Azariah, a wealthy and respected Kohen. Rabbi Azariah was a 9th generation, direct descendent of Ezra Hasofer. Quite knowledgeable in Torah, Rebbe Azarya was called a 'friend' by Rabbi Dosa ben Hurkenes, a leading elder of the generation. Rabbi Azariah was very wealthy and supported his brother Shimon, allowing him to spend all his time learning Torah, subsequently this Tana is always referred to as 'Shimon brother of Azaria'. |
Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was around 13 years old when Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai passed away. | Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was around 13 years old when Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai passed away. | ||
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===Rabbi Yossi Haglili=== | ===Rabbi Yossi Haglili=== | ||
| − | [[File:00000624 sign leading kever rabbi eleazar ben azariah.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Sign leading to Kever.]]Predicting the upcoming doom and destruction of the Temple, Rabbi Azariah gathered all his wealth and family and moved out of Central Eretz Yisroel, heading North, where conditions were slightly better. In the North, young Eleazar became a student of | + | [[File:00000624 sign leading kever rabbi eleazar ben azariah.jpg|thumb|180px|right|Sign leading to Kever.]]Predicting the upcoming doom and destruction of the Temple, Rabbi Azariah gathered all his wealth and family and moved out of Central Eretz Yisroel, heading North, where conditions were slightly better. In the North, young Eleazar became a student of Rabbi Yossi Haglili. |
| − | Rabbi Yossi Haglili had a nasty wife but could not afford to divorce her and pay the Ketuvah. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah offered his teacher to pay the Ketuvah from his father's wealth | + | Rabbi Yossi Haglili had a nasty wife but could not afford to divorce her and pay the Ketuvah. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah offered his teacher to pay the Ketuvah from his father's wealth but the latter did not take him up on the offer. |
| − | Rabbi Yossi Haglili is considered a third generation Tana while his early student Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah is listed amongst the second generation Tanaim. This is because Rabbi Yossi Haglili did not leave the North until years later when he traveled down to Kerem Byavneh and revealed his great wisdom in front of Rabbi Akiva and | + | Rabbi Yossi Haglili is considered a third generation Tana while his early student Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah is listed amongst the second generation Tanaim. This is because Rabbi Yossi Haglili did not leave the North until years later when he traveled down to Kerem Byavneh and revealed his great wisdom in front of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarphon. His main activity was therefore amongst the third generation Tanaim, while his younger student was appointed as Nasi years before and his main correspondences were with the second generation Tanaim. |
===Yavneh=== | ===Yavneh=== | ||
| − | + | After the destruction of the Second Temple, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zaki gathered all the surviving Sages and reestablished the Sanhedrin in Yavneh. Rabbi Azariah gathered his family and they moved to Yavneh, the new center of Torah. His son Rabbi Eleazer was now able to study in the Bais Medrash of the Sages. | |
| − | Even before he was appointed as Nasi, Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was very respected in the eyes of the Sages. We find him along with Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenus, Rabbi Akiva, | + | Even before he was appointed as Nasi, Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was very respected in the eyes of the Sages. We find him along with Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenus, Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Tarphone reciting the story of the Exodus from Egypt on the night of the Seder in Beni Brak. Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenus was excommunicated before Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was appointed as Nasi, making him only 16 - 17 years old at the time of this Pesach Seder. There are however opinions that say it was referring to Rabbi Eleazar be Aruch who has the same exact abbreviation of his name. |
==Nasi== | ==Nasi== | ||
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| + | In the aftermath of the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, Rabbi Gamliel was determined to unify the Sages into one central authority to prevent the Jewish nation from splintering into factions. He felt that by strengthening his position as Nasi, he would be able to do that. When he felt strong Halachic controversy from the Av Bais Din, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chanaya, he openly degraded him on three separate occasions. After the third time, his fellow Sages were unable to watching the continuous humiliation of Rabbi Yehoshua. Together they decided to remove Rabbi Gamliel from his position as Nasi. | ||
Now the Sages were faced with the dilemma of finding a replacement Nasi. They could not appoint Rabbi Yehoshua since such a move would be too painful to Rabbi Gamliel due his personal involvement in this incident. Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenus had already left the Sages and started his own Yeshiva in Lud. Rabbi Tarphone lacked the generosity needed to be a leader of the Jewish Nation. Rabbi Akiva was a descendent of converts and lacked the parental merit needed to protect him from the spiritual wrath of Rabbi Gamliel. Rabbi Tzadok was too physically weak from fasting forty years to prevent the destruction of the Temple. | Now the Sages were faced with the dilemma of finding a replacement Nasi. They could not appoint Rabbi Yehoshua since such a move would be too painful to Rabbi Gamliel due his personal involvement in this incident. Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkenus had already left the Sages and started his own Yeshiva in Lud. Rabbi Tarphone lacked the generosity needed to be a leader of the Jewish Nation. Rabbi Akiva was a descendent of converts and lacked the parental merit needed to protect him from the spiritual wrath of Rabbi Gamliel. Rabbi Tzadok was too physically weak from fasting forty years to prevent the destruction of the Temple. | ||
| − | + | With no other choices eyes fell upon Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah, a young prodigy. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah, despite his young age of 18 had already attained deep wisdom and knowledge. He had inherited tremendous wealth from his father and would therefore be respected by the ruling Roman government. His Yichus was very strong, being the tenth generation from Ezra the Scribe. | |
His appointment was particularly impressive considering all the great Sages of Yavneh whom were alive at the time. This was a sign that even at that young age Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah had already attained great knowledge and had perfected almost all his attributes. Some of the Sages had been eying him since he was 16-17 years old, from the first time Rabbi Gamliel had humiliated Rabbi Yehoshua. | His appointment was particularly impressive considering all the great Sages of Yavneh whom were alive at the time. This was a sign that even at that young age Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah had already attained great knowledge and had perfected almost all his attributes. Some of the Sages had been eying him since he was 16-17 years old, from the first time Rabbi Gamliel had humiliated Rabbi Yehoshua. | ||
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===Like Seventy Years Old=== | ===Like Seventy Years Old=== | ||
| − | + | Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah's wife also pointed out that he looked very young and would not be respected. However that night a miracle took place and eighteen strands of his hair turned white giving him an elderly appearance. It is for this reason that Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah said "I am ''like'' seventy years old". Additionally Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah used to study Torah day and night with all his energy, this weakened his physical strength and brought about early effects of aging. | |
===On That Day=== | ===On That Day=== | ||
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== Family == | == Family == | ||
| − | + | Rabbi Eleazar's father, Rabbi Azariah was a wealth and respected Kohen. His uncle was the Tana Shimon Achi Azariah. Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was known to have had at least one son, the Tana Rabbi Yishmoel ben Eleazar. A tenth generation descendent of Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah was the Amorah Rabbi Ezra grandson of Rabbi Avtilimus. | |
== Passing == | == Passing == | ||
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==Kever Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya== | ==Kever Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya== | ||
| − | + | Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah is buried in Alama right after the Kevarim of Rabbi Yossi Hakohen, Rabbi Eleazar ben Aruch and Rabbi Shimon ben Nisanel. A few feet away from Kever Rabbi Eleazar is the Kever of his father Azariah. Location of Kever Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah being in Alama, is mentioned as far back as 1000 years ago in Migilas Evyasar. Almost all the early description of the Kever say that it was in the vicinity of a large tree, which still exists to this day. | |
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| + | <gallery widths=180px heights=120px perrow=4 caption="Kever Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah Photo Gallery"> | ||
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| − | + | File:00000625 kever rabbi elazar ben azarya in alamah.jpg | |
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[[Category:Tannaim]] | [[Category:Tannaim]] | ||
[[Category:Tzadikim]] | [[Category:Tzadikim]] | ||
[[Category:Kivray Tzadikim]] | [[Category:Kivray Tzadikim]] | ||