R Hiyya The Great

R Zera said to them:

Didn’t I tell you that any Tannaitic tradition that is not taught in schools of R Hiyya and R Oshaya is corrupt and should not be used as a challenge in our bet midrash!

What if the Baraita actually said: “is NOT in the category of 40 lashes”?

Come and hear: R Oshaya and R Hiyya taught...

R Shimeon ben Lakish said: May I suffer in the place of R Hiyya and his sons – For the first time Torah was forgotten by Israel, Ezra ascended from Bavel and re-established it.

It was forgotten again, and Hillel the Babylonian ascended and re-established it.

It was forgotten again, and R Hiyya and his sons ascended and re-established it.

Resh Lakish was marking the burial-caves of the rabbis, but when he reached the cave of R Hiyya it was hidden from him.

He dispaired and said – Master of the Universe, did I not study Torah as much as he did?

A voice came out and said – you studied as much as him, but you did not teach.

When R Hanina and R Hiyya argued, R Hanina said – How could you argue with me? If Heaven forbid, all of Torah would be forgotten I could bring it back through my analysis.

R Hiyya Said to R Hanina – How could you argue with me? I have acted so that Torah will never be forgotten from Israel.

What do I do?

I go and plant flax, and I weave nets and hunt deer and I feed their flesh to orphans. Then I make scrolls (of their skin) and write the five humashim. I go to town and read the five books with five children and I teach six children the six orders. Then I say to them – until I come again read to each other and teach each other. Thus I have acted so Torah will not be forgotten by Israel.

Of this Rabbi said: How great are the deeds of Hiyya.

Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, said to him: even greater than the yours? He said to him: Yes. Even greater than those of my father? HE said: Heaven forbid! Such a statement shall not be heard among the Jewish people.

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Rabbi Zeira said: Last night, Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, appeared to me. I said to him: Near whom are you placed? He said: Near Rabbi Yoḥanan. I asked: And Rabbi Yoḥanan is near whom? He replied: Near Rabbi Yannai. And Rabbi Yannai is near whom? Near Rabbi Ḥanina. And Rabbi Ḥanina is near whom? Near Rabbi Ḥiyya. I said: But isn’t Rabbi Yoḥanan near Rabbi Ḥiyya? He said to me: In a place of fiery sparks and burning fires, who can bring the son of Nappaḥa, there?

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Rav Ḥaviva said: Rav Ḥaviva bar Surmakei told me: I saw one of the Sages whom Elijah would visit, and his eyes looked beautiful in the morning, but appeared as if burnt by fire in the evening. I said to him: What is this? He said to me: I said to Elijah: Show me the Sages upon their ascension to the heavenly academy. Elijah said to me: You may gaze at all of them except for the chariot of Rabbi Ḥiyya, upon whom you may not gaze. I asked: What are the signs? He said: All of the others are accompanied by angels as they ascend and descend, except for the chariot of Rabbi Ḥiyya, which ascends and descends on its own. I was unable to restrain myself, and I looked at it. Two fiery flames came and struck me, and blinded my eyes. The next day, I went and prostrated on Rabbi Ḥiyya’s cave. I said: I study the baraitot of the Master; And I was healed

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Elijah was often found in the academy of Rabbi. One day it was a New Moon, and Elijah was delayed and did not come. Later, he said to Elijah: What is the reason that the Master was delayed? Elijah said to him: I had to wake up Abraham, wash his hands, and wait for him to pray, and then lay him down again. And similarly, for Isaac, and similarly for Jacob. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi asked Elijah: Why not wake them all together. Elijah responded: I fear that they would pray with great power and bring the Messiah prematurely. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said to Elijah: Is there anyone like that in this world? Elijah said to him: Rabbi Ḥiyya and his sons. Rabbi decreed a fast, brought Rabbi Ḥiyya and his sons down. Rabbi Ḥiyya recited: Who makes the wind blow, and the wind blew. He recited: Who makes the rain fall, and rain fell. When he was about to say: Who revives the dead, the world trembled. They said in heaven: Who revealed the secrets to the world? They said - Elijah. Elijah was brought and beaten with sixty fiery lashes. He came back in the appearence of a fiery bear of fire and distracted them.

§ The Sages taught: At the time of the passing of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, he said: I need my sons. His sons entered his room. He said to them: Be careful with the honor of your mother... § Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said further to his attendants: I need the Sages of Israel. The Sages of Israel entered his room. He said to them: Do not eulogize me in the small towns and reconvene the study sessions at the yeshiva after thirty days of mourning. My son Shimon is a Sage. My son Gamliel should be the Nasi. Ḥanina bar Ḥama will sit at the head of the yeshiva.

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But what about R Hiyya?

R Hiyya was occupied with mitzvot, and Rebbi thought not to hold him back...

This was the argument of R Hanina and R Hiyya, etc.

The Angel of Death could not approach Rabbi Ḥiyya.

One day he appeared to him as a beggar knocking on the door.

He said to: Bring out bread for me.

He brought out bread for him.

He then said: Since you have mercy on a poor person? Why do you not have mercy on me?

He revealed himself, and showed him a rod of fire.

R Hiyya made himself accessible.