Grave
Choni HaMe'agel
Yahrzeit (Hillula)
- 3 Iyar — Choni HaMe'agel
Grave of the Tzadik Choni HaMe'agel
Yahrzeit - 5 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 the reign of the Hasmoneans, during the years of the rule of Shlomtzion Alexandra.
The name "Choni" is understood by tradition to mean "favorite, beloved one."
Choni was G-d's beloved. G-d fulfilled all his requests and wishes, and therefore people, hesitant to turn to G-d directly, would ask Choni to serve 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 expert in the Oral Torah. Choni willingly gave his explanations to his students.
In the Talmud, in Tractate Taanit, it is told:
"It happened that the month of Adar was drawing to an end, and rain had (still) not fallen. [The students] sent for Choni HaMe'agel to pray for rain, and rain fell. He prayed, but rain did not fall. [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 man 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: "Teacher! We have seen you, and we shall 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] wells, canals, and [underground] caves." Then a terrible storm broke out and such heavy rain fell that each drop filled a barrel.
His students said to him: "Teacher! We have seen you and we shall not die. But it seems to us that this rain is falling to destroy 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 a very long time), until the whole nation went up to the Temple Mount [to save themselves] from the rain (flood).
They said to him: "Teacher, you prayed for rain to fall. Pray for the rain to stop."
He said: "I have been taught: one does not pray for the cancellation of a great good. Therefore bring me a bull for a thanksgiving offering."
They brought him a bull. He placed both his hands upon it and said: "Master of the world! Israel, Your people, whom You brought out of Egypt, can bear neither great good nor great misfortune. You grew angry with them - they could not endure it; You bestowed great good upon them generously - they also cannot endure it. May it be Your will that the rains cease, and the clouds over the world disperse!"
At that very moment a wind blew, the clouds parted, and the sun shone forth. The people went out into the fields and gathered truffles and [other] mushrooms.
Shimon ben Shetach sent (a message) to Choni (the Nasi):
"Were you not Choni, I would place you under a ban. But what can I do to you, since you act like a spoiled child before the Almighty, and He fulfills your will - like a son who acts spoiled before his father, and the father fulfills all his whims. And 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 warring 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 Chilkiah 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!
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