Yose b. Yochanan

Talmudic Figures

Yose b. Yoezer and Yose b. Yochanan served as the first of the zugot (pairs), with the first being Nasi (religious leader) and the second the head of the court. They served after Antigonos in a period of intense Hellenization and war, and promulgated several leniencies to encourage Jews to keep the law under these difficult conditions.

Sources

A New Israeli Commentary on Pirkei Avot 1:5:8-9

AFTER ANTIGONOS OF SOCHO there began a period in Jewish history which was characterised by dual leadership. This period lasted for about five generations and was called the time of the “Pairs” because two men simultaneously led and governed the people. One of the two was generally the Nasi (Chief) and the other was called, the “Av Beth Din,” the father of the court. At first these “Pairs” were in complete agreement on all fundamental issues and differed only on minor religious questions…

The Jewish Spiritual Heroes, Volume I; The Creators of the Mishna, Jose ben Joeser and Jose ben Jochanan