Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakkai

Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai (in Hebrew by Roman army of Titus , son of Emperor Vespasian . Dating narrower is its existence 1 to 80 of the current era . Disciple of Rebbe Hillel , said Hillel the Elder, Yohanan ben Zakkai in Jerusalem and then studied in Galilee. It was a great tannaim Repeaters in the Mishna , and supported numerous controversies against the Sadducees. In his capacity as Nassi , he initiated major reforms that founded the rabbinical Judaism and was also the sponsor of the Academy of Yavneh , which allowed the perpetuation of Judaism after the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Biography

Tradition gives birth in the lineage of David It does not yet shared the messianic hope of his family and the Jewish people . Rather than dreaming about the arrival of the anointed King, the Mashiah, the Messiah , he focused on problems more practical and more urgent for the survival of Judaism in the Roman destruction.

Realizing the futility of resisting the Romans, because he noticed it was possible for the Jewish people to survive exile from his spiritual center, Jerusalem, the heart of his holy temple, and his country the Land of Israel. This possibility was based on the fact that the Torah is in their possession, nobody could take them. Precursor of ideology chanted through the ages: "They will all take me, even my life, but my freedom of thought, it they can not take it."

When Vespasian , Roman general, soon Emperor , granted him three wishes, it requires neither the salvation of the city or that of his temple, he realized that the Romans were determined to destroy them and that, therefore, could not save them. It asks that the free city of Yavneh became the new home of the Sanhedrin , the Jewish supreme court, and the Torah Sages.

He is convinced that studying the Torah and the observance of his commandments , the Jewish people will continue to exist wherever there is exiled in the world and keep the memory of the temple in his heart, so that never forget. When God will have mercy on his people, and he will return to their land and rebuild the temple, they are ready.

But the final uncertainty of human life is reflected in what tells the Talmud about it: on his deathbed, he cried and said "I do not know where I'm going to" even if history proves the truth its analysis, it was never absolutely certain not to have erred in his choice about the Temple and Jerusalem.

As Nassi (President of the Sanhedrin ), he instituted what will replace the offerings of the Temple: Prayer.

Descendant of the house of David , he and his family always gave hope to the Jewish people in the arrival of their anointed King Mashiah, the Messiah.

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