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Сила Теилим

3 Iyar · Yahrzeit

Choni HaMe'agel

Choni HaMe'agel - Tanna
Yahrzeit - 3 Iyar
Burial place - Hatzor HaGlilit
Choni HaMe'agel was a sage and miracle worker of the Second Temple era, who lived at the end of the period
of Hasmonean rule, during the reign of Shlomtzion (Salome Alexandra).
The name "Choni" is traditionally understood to mean "favorite, beloved one."
Choni was G-d's favorite. G-d fulfilled all his requests and wishes, and therefore people, not daring to turn to G-d directly, would ask Choni to act as an intermediary.
According to tradition, Choni was a descendant of Moshe and enjoyed great popularity among the people. He had many students, and, according to later accounts, he was a great scholar of the Oral Torah. Choni gladly gave his explanations to his students.
The Talmud, in Tractate Taanit, tells the following story:
"It happened that the month of Adar was coming to an end, and there had (still) been no rain. [The students] sent to Choni HaMe'agel, asking him to pray so that rain would fall. He prayed, but no rain fell. [Then] he drew a circle on the ground and stood inside it.
He said: "Master of all worlds! Your children have turned to me, considering me, as it were, a person close to You. I swear by Your Great Name that I will not move from this spot until You have mercy on Your children."
Rain began to drizzle.
His students said to him: "Rabbi! We have seen you, and we will not die. But it seems to us that this rain is falling only to release you from your oath."
He exclaimed: "That is not what I asked for, but [I asked] for rain to [fill] the wells, canals, and [underground] caves." Then a fierce storm broke out and such heavy rain fell that each drop filled a barrel.
His students said to him: "Rabbi! We have seen you and we will not die. But it seems to us that this rain is falling for the destruction of the world."
He exclaimed again: "That is not what I asked for, but I asked for rain of goodwill, blessing, and generosity!"
The rain he had asked for began to fall (but it went on for so long) that all the people went up to the Temple Mount [to escape] from the rain (flooding).
They said to him: "Rabbi, you prayed for rain to fall. Pray now for the rain to stop."
He said: "I was taught: one does not pray for the removal of a great good. Therefore, bring me a bull for a thanksgiving offering."
They brought him a bull. He laid both his hands upon it and said: "Master of the world! Israel, Your people, whom You brought out of Egypt, cannot bear either too much good or too much misfortune. You became angry with them — they cannot bear it; You generously granted them great good — they also cannot bear it. May it be Your will that the rains stop and the clouds over the world disperse!"
At that very moment the wind blew, the clouds dispersed, and the sun shone. The people went out into the fields and gathered truffles and [other] mushrooms.
Shimon ben Shetach (the Nasi) sent a message to Choni:
"Were you not Choni, I would place you under a ban. But what can I do to you, since you act capriciously before the Almighty, and He fulfills your will — like a son who acts capriciously before his father, and the father fulfills all his whims. Of you it is said in the Torah (Mishlei 23:25): 'Let your father and mother rejoice, and let her who bore you exult.'" (Mishnah Taanit III:8; Babylonian Talmud, Taanit 23a)
Josephus relates that one of the last heirs of the Hasmonean dynasty, Aristobulus II, while at war with his brother Hyrcanus II, laid siege to the Temple Mount. The besieged supporters of Hyrcanus turned to Rabbi Choni, who was then in the Temple, asking him to curse the hated Aristobulus. However, Rabbi Choni refused to curse Aristobulus, and instead asked the Almighty not to accept the prayers of either warring side. The enraged supporters of Hyrcanus stoned Rabbi Choni to death.
Rabbi Choni's grandsons — Abba Chilkia and Chanan HaNechba — were also beloved by the people and were known for their ability to bring rain.
May the merit of Rabbi Choni HaMe'agel protect our people!
(https://dailyzohar.com/tzadikim/208-Choni-HaMe-agel)
Pilgrimage site: Grave: Choni HaMe'agel