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Сила Теилим

1 Tishrei · Yahrzeit

Yahrzeit/Hillula of Ben Azzai

Rabbi Shimon ben Azzai - better known as Ben Azzai. Ben Azzai and Ben Zoma - renowned Tannaim - did not manage to receive smicha and the honorable title "rabbi," and nevertheless, "in those days there were none like them in the knowledge of Torah" (Rashi on Kiddushin 49b). Ben Azzai is especially noted as an outstanding example of a "disciple worthy of the choir," possessing the right of independent judgment in matters of religious law. Ben Azzai was closely connected with the leaders of the academy in Yavne. He transmitted "from the mouths of 72 elders" who were present, the halachic decision that was accepted in Yavne on the day when Elazar ben Azaryah was elected president in place of Gamliel II, on that same day declaring the books of Kohelet and Shir HaShirim to be just as sacred as the other Scriptures. The chief among Ben Azzai's teachers was Yehoshua ben Chananya, whose views he expounded, confirmed, or defended against Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Akiva himself was not actually Ben Azzai's teacher, although the latter sometimes calls him so, and once even regrets that he was not in a closer relationship with Rabbi Akiva as a disciple; and he expressed the same regret regarding Yishmael ben Elisha. In his halachic opinions and biblical interpretations, as well as in other statements, Ben Azzai follows Rabbi Akiva. Piety and Devotion to Study The most outstanding trait of Ben Azzai was the extraordinary diligence with which he studied and taught Torah. It was later said of him: "With the death of Ben Azzai, the last diligent man died." A later tradition speaks of the zealous studies of Ben Azzai and Rabbi Akiva (with reference to Psalms 113:8) that their power of perception was as firm as a rock; but because they studied so diligently, G-d opened for man the entrance to Torah, so that Ben Azzai could explain in halacha even that which the schools of Shammai and Hillel did not understand. Love of study led Ben Azzai to remain unmarried, although he himself preached against celibacy and was even betrothed to the daughter of Rabbi Akiva, who waited for years for him to marry her, just as her mother had waited for Akiva. When Elazar ben Azaryah rebuked him for this contradiction between his life and his teaching, he answered: "What can I do? My soul cleaves with love to the Torah; let others see to the continuation of the race." Another characteristic of Ben Azzai was his great piety. It was said: "He who sees Ben Azzai in a dream is himself on the path to piety." Thanks to this piety, he was able, without harm to his soul, to devote himself to theosophical contemplation when he, together with Ben Zoma, Elisha ben Abuya, and Rabbi Akiva, entered the Pardes (four entered the orchard) of esoteric teaching. Tradition says of him: "He gazed upon the mysteries of the orchard and died; of him Scripture says: Precious in the eyes of G-d is the death of His pious ones." Regarding this verse, Ben Azzai himself taught that G-d shows the pious, at the hour of their death, the rewards awaiting them. Other sayings of his about the hour of death have also come down to us. According to a tradition that is not entirely reliable, Ben Azzai was among the first victims of the persecutions under Hadrian; therefore his name is found on the list of the Ten Martyrs. Reputation Ben Azzai's posthumous fame was extraordinary. The greatest Amora of the Land of Israel - Rabbi Yochanan - and the greatest Amora of Babylonia - Rav - each said, to mark their authority as teachers of the Law: "Behold, I am Ben Azzai." The name Ben Azzai is used in the same sense by the great Babylonian Amoraim Abaye and Rava. An aggadic legend from the Land of Israel tells the following about him: Once, when Ben Azzai was expounding Scripture, flames blazed up around him, and when asked whether he was studying the mysteries of the "Divine Chariot," he answered: "I am stringing together, like pearls, the words of the Torah with the words of the Prophets, and the words of the Prophets with the words of the Writings, and therefore the words of the Torah rejoice, as on the day when they were given amid the flames of Sinai." Teachings Many of Ben Azzai's teachings have been preserved, both with and without a biblical basis. Two of them were included in "Pirkei Avot." Following Ben Azzai's statement at the beginning of the third chapter of "Derech Eretz Rabbah" - this small book (which originally began with that chapter) is called "Perek Ben Azzai." May the merit of the tzadik protect our people!