Hiyya The Great
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Hiyya, or Hiyya the Great, (ca. 180–230 CE) (
Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
: רבי חייא, or רבי חייא הגדול) was a Jewish
sage Sage or SAGE may refer to: Plants * ''Salvia officinalis'', common sage, a small evergreen subshrub used as a culinary herb ** Lamiaceae, a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family ** ''Salvia'', a large ...
in the
Land of Israel The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine (see also Isra ...
during the transitional generation between the
Tannaic ''Tannaim'' ( Amoraic Hebrew: תנאים , singular , ''Tanna'' "repeaters", "teachers") were the rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 10–220 CE. The period of the ''Tannaim'', also referred to as the Mis ...
and
Amoraic ''Amoraim'' (Aramaic: plural or , singular ''Amora'' or ''Amoray''; "those who say" or "those who speak over the people", or "spokesmen") refers to Jewish scholars of the period from about 200 to 500 CE, who "said" or "told over" the teachin ...
eras (1st Amora generation). Active in
Tiberias Tiberias ( ; he, טְבֶרְיָה, ; ar, طبريا, Ṭabariyyā) is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's Fo ...
, Hiyya was the primary compiler of the ''
Tosefta The Tosefta (Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: תוספתא "supplement, addition") is a compilation of the Jewish oral law from the late 2nd century, the period of the Mishnah. Overview In many ways, the Tosefta acts as a supplement to the Mishnah ( ...
.'' His full name is Hiyya bar Abba, also the name of the 3rd generation Amora of the Land of Israel,
Hiyya bar Abba Ḥiyya bar Abba (Aramaic: רבי חייא בר אבא), Ḥiyya bar Ba (Aramaic: רבי חייא בר בא), or Ḥiyya bar Wa (Aramaic: רבי חייא בר ווא) was a third generation ''amoraic'' sage of the Land of Israel, of priestly des ...
. He was a student of
Judah haNasi Judah ha-Nasi ( he, יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא‎, ''Yəhūḏā hanNāsīʾ‎''; Yehudah HaNasi or Judah the Prince) or Judah I, was a second-century rabbi (a tanna of the fifth generation) and chief redactor and editor of the ''Mis ...
, and uncle and teacher of
Rav ''Rav'' (or ''Rab,'' Modern Hebrew: ) is the Hebrew generic term for a person who teaches Torah; a Jewish spiritual guide; or a rabbi. For example, Pirkei Avot (1:6) states that: The term ''rav'' is also Hebrew for ''rabbi''. (For a more nuan ...
.


Biography


In Babylonia

Rabbi Hiyya was originally from the city of Kapri in
Babylonia Babylonia (; Akkadian: , ''māt Akkadī'') was an ancient Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in the city of Babylon in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq and parts of Syria). It emerged as an Amorite-ruled state c. ...
and was the son of Abba Karsala. He descended from the family of
Shimei Shimei ( ''Šīmʿī'') is the name of a number of persons referenced in the Hebrew Bible and Rabbinical literature. *The second son of Gershon and grandson of Levi (; ; ). The family of the Shimeites, as a branch of the tribe of Levi, is mentione ...
, a brother of
King David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
. He passed the earlier part of his life in Babylonia, where he married a certain Judith. By her he had twin sons, Judah and Hezekiah (both of whom became renowned rabbis), and twin daughters, Pazi and Tavi.Yevamot 65b Hiyya was unhappy in his married life, for his wife was a shrew. This was so keenly felt by Hiyya that when asked by his nephew for a blessing he said: "May God preserve you from an evil that is worse than death—a contentious woman". Hiyya was especially affected by a trick she played upon him. Disguising herself, she went to him and asked whether the obligation of propagating the human race extended to women; receiving an answer in the negative, she took drugs which rendered her barren. However, Hiyya's good nature was so great that he overwhelmed her with presents, meeting the astonishment of his nephew by saying that men should show themselves grateful to their wives for rearing their children and for keeping their husbands from sin.Yevamot 63a


In the Land of Israel

In the latter part of his life Hiyya emigrated to
Tiberias Tiberias ( ; he, טְבֶרְיָה, ; ar, طبريا, Ṭabariyyā) is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's Fo ...
where he established a business in silks, which he exported to Tyre. The high reputation acquired by him in Babylonia had preceded him to Palestine, and he soon became the center of the collegiate circle of the patriarch
Judah haNasi Judah ha-Nasi ( he, יְהוּדָה הַנָּשִׂיא‎, ''Yəhūḏā hanNāsīʾ‎''; Yehudah HaNasi or Judah the Prince) or Judah I, was a second-century rabbi (a tanna of the fifth generation) and chief redactor and editor of the ''Mis ...
. Regarding him more as a colleague than as a pupil, Judah treated Hiyya as his guest whenever the latter chanced to be at
Sepphoris Sepphoris (; grc, Σέπφωρις, Séphōris), called Tzipori in Hebrew ( he, צִפּוֹרִי, Tzipori),Palmer (1881), p115/ref> and known in Arabic as Saffuriya ( ar, صفورية, Ṣaffūriya) since the 7th century, is an archaeolog ...
, consulted him, and took him with him when he went to
Caesarea Caesarea () ( he, קֵיסָרְיָה, ), ''Keysariya'' or ''Qesarya'', often simplified to Keisarya, and Qaysaria, is an affluent town in north-central Israel, which inherits its name and much of its territory from the ancient city of Caesare ...
to visit Antoninus. His admiration for Hiyya was so great that he used to say: "Hiyya and his sons are as meritorious as the Patriarchs". Judah's friendship and high esteem for Hiyya are connected in the aggadah with a miracle. In course of a conversation with him Judah said that if the Babylonian exilarch
Rav Huna Rav Huna (Hebrew: רב הונא) was a Jewish Talmud, Talmudist and Exilarch who lived in Babylonia, known as an Amoraim, amora of the second generation and head of the Talmudic Academies in Babylonia, Academy of Sura; he was born about 216 (212 ...
, who was believed to be descended from
David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
, came to Palestine he (Judah) would yield to him the office of patriarch. When Huna died and his body was brought to Palestine for burial, Hiyya went to Judah and said, "Huna is here," and, after pausing to notice Judah's pallor, added, "his coffin has arrived." Seriously offended, Judah banished Hiyya for thirty days. While the latter was away, the prophet Elijah, assuming Hiyya's features, presented himself to Judah and healed a toothache from which the patriarch had suffered for thirteen years. Judah was not long in discovering the truth of this wonderful cure, and his respect for Hiyya increased. Hiyya was also close with Judah's son
Simeon Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew (Biblical ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated as Shimon. In Greek it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Symeon. Meaning The name is derived from Simeon, son ...
, whom he learnt
Psalms The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...
with. It was said among the Palestinians that since the arrival of Hiyya in Palestine storms did not occur and wine did not turn sour. His prayers are said to have brought rain in a time of drought and to have caused a lion, which had rendered the roads unsafe, to leave Palestine. Other miracles of the same kind are credited to him. He was especially lauded by his Babylonian compatriots.
Simeon ben Lakish Shim‘on ben Lakish ( he, שמעון בן לקיש; arc, שמעון בר לקיש ''Shim‘on bar Lakish'' or ''bar Lakisha''), better known by his nickname Reish Lakish (c. 200 — c. 275), was an amora who lived in the Roman province of Judae ...
names him after the two other Babylonians,
Ezra Ezra (; he, עֶזְרָא, '; fl. 480–440 BCE), also called Ezra the Scribe (, ') and Ezra the Priest in the Book of Ezra, was a Jewish scribe (''sofer'') and priest (''kohen''). In Greco-Latin Ezra is called Esdras ( grc-gre, Ἔσδρας ...
and Hillel, who came to Palestine to restore the study of the Torah. However exaggerated this assertion may be, Hiyya was certainly very active in the promotion of learning in Palestine. He founded schools for children and often acted as instructor. It is related that when
Hanina bar Hama Hanina bar Hama (died c. 250) ( he, חנינא בר חמא) was a Jewish Talmudist, halakhist and aggadist frequently quoted in the Babylonian and the Jerusalem Talmud, and in the Midrashim. He is generally cited by the name R. Hanina, but somet ...
boasted that he could reconstruct the Torah by logic should it be forgotten, Hiyya said: "I am able to devise a method by which the Torah would never be forgotten by Israel, for I would bring flax seed, sow it, spin thread, twist ropes, and prepare traps by means of which I would catch gazelles. The flesh of these I would distribute among poor orphans, and I would use the hides to make parchment, on which I would write the Torah. Provided with this, I would go to places where there are no teachers, and instruct the children." Hiyya is portrayed in the Talmud as a model of virtue and goodness. His house is said to have been always open to the poor. Even his death is connected by legend with an act of charity: "The angel of death could not approach him. The angel therefore disguised himself as a poor man and knocked at Hiyya's door. Hiyya, as usual, gave the order to bring bread for the poor. Then the angel said: 'You have compassion on the poor; why not have pity upon me? Give me your life and spare me the trouble of coming so many times.' Then Hiyya gave himself up." At his death, relates another aggadah, stones of fire fell from the skies.


Teachings


Halacha

Hiyya's activity in the field of halakhah was very extensive. To him and his pupil Hoshea is due the redaction of the traditional halakhot which had not been included by Judah haNasi in the
Mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; he, מִשְׁנָה, "study by repetition", from the verb ''shanah'' , or "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions which is known as the Oral Torah ...
. These halakhot are known under the various names of "Baraitot de-Rabbi Hiyya," "Mishnat de-Rabbi Hiyya," and "Mishnayot Gedolot." Some of them are introduced in the Talmud with the words "Tane Rabbi Hiyya," and are considered the only correct version of the halakhot omitted by Judah. Hiyya was the author of original halakhot also, which he derived from the Mishnah by the hermeneutic rules. Hiyya seems to have contributed to the
Sifra Sifra (Aramaic: סִפְרָא) is the Halakhic midrash to the Book of Leviticus. It is frequently quoted in the Talmud, and the study of it followed that of the Mishnah. Like Leviticus itself, the midrash is occasionally called "Torat Kohanim", a ...
the redaction of the tannaitic midrash to Leviticus, where his sayings are often quoted. From the time of
Sherira Gaon Sherira bar Hanina (Hebrew: שרירא בר חנינא) more commonly known as Sherira Gaon (Hebrew: שרירא גאון; c. 906-c. 1006) was the gaon of the Academy of Pumbeditha. He was one of the most prominent Geonim of his period, and the ...
, Hiyya was generally regarded as the author of the
Tosefta The Tosefta (Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: תוספתא "supplement, addition") is a compilation of the Jewish oral law from the late 2nd century, the period of the Mishnah. Overview In many ways, the Tosefta acts as a supplement to the Mishnah ( ...
, but the supposition has been rejected on very strong grounds by modern scholars. Although very conservative, he opposed the issuing of new prohibitions: "Make not the fence higher than the Law itself, lest it should fall and destroy the plants".


Aggadah

Hiyya's activity extended also to the aggadah. Sayings of his, and his controversies with
Simeon ben Halafta Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew (Biblical Hebrew, Biblical ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian vocalization, Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated as Shimon. In Greek it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Symeon. Meani ...
,
Bar Kappara Bar Kappara ( he, בר קפרא) was a rabbi of the late 2nd and early 3rd century CE, during the period between the ''tannaim'' and ''amoraim''. He was active in Caesarea in the Land of Israel, from around 180 to 220 CE. His name, meaning "Son o ...
, Jonathan, and Jannai are frequently quoted in aggadic literature. As a Babylonian Hiyya hated the Romans, whom he compared to obnoxious insects. "God foresaw that the Jews could not bear the yoke of the Romans, and therefore designed Babylonia for their place of residence". Hiyya's views on some Biblical books are noteworthy. According to him the Book of Job is the work of a non-Jew, and
Solomon Solomon (; , ),, ; ar, سُلَيْمَان, ', , ; el, Σολομών, ; la, Salomon also called Jedidiah (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Modern Hebrew, Modern: , Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: ''Yăḏīḏăyāh'', "beloved of Yahweh, Yah"), ...
wrote his works in his old age. Hiyya's aggadot are particularly rich in thoughts concerning the moral life and the relations of human beings to one another. Hiyya was a physician of high repute. The Talmud quotes many of his medical utterances, among which is a description of the development of the embryo in the womb which betrays considerable medical knowledge.


Quotes

* As the dawn spreads gradually, so will the deliverance of Israel come gradually.Yerushalmi Berachot 3b


References

It has the following bibliography: * Ibn YaHya, Shalshelet ha-Ḳabbalah, 32b; * Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ii. 128; * Kirchheim, in Orient, Lit. ix. 611 et seq.; * J. H. Weiss, Dor, ii. 198, 218; * W. Bacher, Ag. Tan. ii. 520 et seq.; * Baer, Das Leben und Wirken des Tannaiten Chiyya, in Berliner's Magazin, xvii. 115 et seq.; * Mielziner, Introduction to the Talmud, p. 39; * Halévy, Dorot ha-Rishonim, ii. 197. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hiyya The Great Talmud rabbis of the Land of Israel