Rabbi Yehoshua [b. Hananyah]

Talmudic Figures

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi was esteemed as the second most prominent student of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, establishing his own academy in Peki'in and emerging as a rival to Rabbi Eliezer. Despite his independent stance, Rabbi Yehoshua's disagreements with Rabban Gamliel led to eventual submission. This transformation elevated him to become the most influential scholar of his era.

Notable Sources

All Sources

Unity and Authority in Jewish Law

MISHNAH

Rabbi Yehoshua's submission to Rabban Gamliel's authority underscores the importance of unity and respect for the established judicial system in Jewish law. The Mishnah, in tractate Rosh Hashanah, recounts a significant event where Rabbi Yehoshua accepted Rabban Gamliel's ruling on the calendar despite his own convictions, emphasizing communal acceptance of rabbinic authority.

Upon hearing that Rabbi Yehoshua had challenged his ruling, Rabban Gamliel sent a message to him: I decree against you that you must appear before me with your staff and with your money on the day on which Yom Kippur occurs according to your calculation; according to my calculation, that day is the eleventh of Tishrei, the day after Yom Kippur. Rabbi Akiva went and found Rabbi Yehoshua distressed that the head of the Great Sanhedrin was forcing him to desecrate the day that he maintained was Yom Kippur…

Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 2:9

The Boldness of Rabbi Yehoshua

JEWISH THOUGHT

Rabbi Yehoshua's position in the 'Oven of Akhnai' debate illustrates the principle that Jewish law is shaped by human interpretation and majority rule, even over divine intervention. Found in the Talmudic narrative of Bava Metzia 59b, the story highlights the autonomy of rabbinic authority in Jewish tradition.

One of the most striking examples of halakhic boldness and independence found in the Talmud is the great debate about the tanur shel Akhnai, the oven of Akhnai. The subject matter of the debate itself is irrelevant to our discussion. The dispute over the law in this case raged between Rabbi Eliezer, the son of Horkenos, and the other masters. Since his colleagues did not accept his arguments, the mighty Rabbi Eliezer wrought a number of miracles to prove that he was right. The miracles were disregarded…

Crisis and Faith, III Torah For Living, 6 The Concrete Situation and Halakhah 2:8

Lessons from Children

TALMUD

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Hananya's humility and openness to learning from anyone, even children, is a powerful lesson in wisdom and humility. The Talmud in tractate Eruvin recounts two incidents where Rabbi Yehoshua ben Hananya is corrected by children, demonstrating his willingness to learn from others regardless of their age or status.

What is the incident with a young girl? One time I was walking along the path, and the path passed through a field, and I was walking on it. A certain young girl said to me: My Rabbi, isn’t this a field? One should not walk through a field, so as not to damage the crops growing there. I said to her: Isn’t it a well-trodden path in the field, across which one is permitted to walk? She said to me: Robbers like you have trodden it. In other words, it previously had been prohibited to walk through this field, and it is only due to people such as you…

Eruvin 53b:21-23

Wisdom in Times of Crisis

MIDRASH

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya's wisdom and storytelling ability helped maintain peace during a crisis. This passage from Bereshit Rabbah illustrates how Rabbi Yehoshua used a parable to calm the assembly of Israel during a time of oppression.

“They said: We saw that the Lord was with you, and we said: Let there now be an oath between us, between us and you, and we will establish a covenant with you” (Genesis 26:28).
“If you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you, and just as we have done only [rak] good with you, and we sent you in peace; you are now the blessed of the Lord” (Genesis 26:29).
“They said: We saw” – we have seen your actions and the actions of your fathers.
“Let there now be an oath…if you will do us [no harm…and just as we have done only [rak] good with you]” – rak…

Bereshit Rabbah 64:10

The Torah is Not in Heaven

COMMENTARY

The principle that the Torah is no longer in heaven emphasizes that halakhic decisions must be made based on the majority opinion of the sages, even if a heavenly voice supports a different view. This Talmudic story from Bava Metzia 59b, known as the 'Oven of Achnai' debate, illustrates the autonomy of rabbinic authority in determining Jewish law.

R. Eliezer then invokes heaven itself. A bat kol (literally, “the daughter of a voice,” a heavenly echo) declares that the law is usually in accord with the view of R. Eliezer. This too, says R. Yehoshua, is irrelevant, and he cites as proof the phrase from Parashat Nitzavim: “It is not in heaven.” At this point the Talmud interpolates an explanation given by R. Yirmiyahu. “The Torah has already been given. We therefore must use the rule: ‘After the majority one must incline’” – meaning: the majority of sages disagree with R. Eliezer…

Covenant and Conversation; Deuteronomy; Renewal of the Sinai Covenant, Nitzavim, Not in Heaven 24

Wisdom Beyond Appearance

TALMUD

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya's clever analogies and wisdom showcase his intellectual sharpness and resilience in the face of criticism. In a conversation with the daughter of the emperor, Rabbi Yehoshua uses an analogy about storing wine in different types of vessels to respond to a comment on his appearance.

The daughter of the emperor said to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya: You are the epitome of magnificent Torah, but it is stored in an ugly vessel, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ḥananya was an unattractive man. He said to her: You may learn the answer to your statement from your father’s house. In what container do you place wine? She said to him: In earthenware vessels. He said to her: Is it conceivable that everyone stores their wine in earthenware vessels…

Nedarim 50b:3

The Rational Sage

REFERENCE

Rabbi Yehoshua's approach to Torah interpretation emphasizes simplicity and rationality, offering a refreshing contrast to more esoteric methods. This biography explores the debates between Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Eliezer, highlighting their differing methodologies in interpreting Jewish texts.

The trend of thoughts of Rabbi Eliezer was illustrated by his saying that the book and the sword were handed down from heaven at the same time. God said: “If you observe the Torah, you will be spared from the sword, but if you will not observe its commandments you shall be destroyed by the sword.” Rabbi Eliezer frequently debated the meaning of various texts of the Torah with Rabbi Joshua ben Chanania and he loved to find hidden meaning whenever the wording of a text was unusual, or there was a superfluous word or some word was lacking…

The Jewish Spiritual Heroes, Volume I; The Creators of the Mishna, Rabbi Eliezer of Modiin 13