Hillel Ii
Hillel Nessia ( Judeo-Aramaic : , Hillel the Nassi ; land of Israel , 320-365 CE), also known as and confused why his ancestor Hillel the Elder , held the position of of the Sanhedrin between 350 and 365 EC, succeeding his father Judah III.
His name appears in two places associated with important decisions for the Jewish law : in one, Yossi Ben Abin tells him a bill ( Yer. Ber. ii. 5a) in the other, Hillel cites a Mishna to establish legislation ( Yer. Ter. i. 41a).
It is traditionally regarded as the creator of the Hebrew calendar modern, fixed by calculation and not from observation of lunar phases. Yet there is little data to confirm this, and the first reference appears in a responsum of Rav Hai Gaon (early eleventh century ), quoted by Abraham bar Hiyya in his Sefer Ha'ibbour, written in 1123. The subject of this responsum is the cycle of 19 years for intercalation of leap years, and we can not conclude with certainty that the fact that Hillel promoted its adoption to regulate the distribution of leap years. Scholars who have studied the history of the Hebrew calendar agreed to think (based on the Talmud itself and other rabbinic sources) that in practice, the changing calendar until its present form was a gradual process over several centuries, from the first century to the eighth century , if not the ninth century CE.
Rabbinic tradition holds him in high regard for this fact which proved of incalculable benefit to the Jews in his generation and beyond, to match the Jewish holidays with the season when they fell in the Bible. The Jewish calendar is lunisolar , his months are synchronized on the lunar phases, while the year corresponds roughly to one solar year. To maintain synchronization with the moon, a day sometimes had to be added in the month, while the synchronization with the seasons sometimes required the intercalation of one month in the year. These intercalations were originally determined at the meetings of a special committee of the Sanhedrin. However, Constantius II , walking in the footsteps of Hadrian , prohibited the holding of these meetings and the sale of Jewish items for specific purposes. Now, Jewish communities in diaspora depended on the schedule sanctioned by the Elders of Judea , under pain of being unable to celebrate together the Jewish holidays. However, the messengers carrying the news to the diaspora communities were often delayed and sometimes arrested. Huna ben Abin even suggested to Rava relieve foreign congregations not wait intercalation official: If you're convinced that the winter quarters s extend beyond the sixteenth day of Nissan , said that this year is embolismic, and does not hesitate ( RH 21a). However, religious persecution continued, and Hillel decided to provide a timetable allowed for all ages to come, although this gesture Alterati ties between Diaspora Jews and their homeland as well as patriarchy.
We also know that the Emperor Julian was able to spare a good relationship with Hillel, he honored on several occasions. In a handwritten letter addressed to him, Julian assured him of his friendship and promised to improve conditions for Jews. Before going on a campaign against Persia, Julian sent to Jewish congregations a circular in which they claimed to have laid the decrees to impose the Jews on fire, and warned his brother, the venerable patriarch Julos to abolish the fee for sending Jews.
See also
| Preceded by Judah III | Nassi 320 CE - 365 CE | Followed by: Gamaliel V |
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