Getting Familiar with Hillel

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Getting Familiar with Hillel

On many occasions you’ve read or heard us speak of a famous Rabbi named Hillel. I thought you might want to become a bit more familiar with him. He was a leader of the Pharisees during the reign of King Herod, and the greatest sage of the Second Temple period. Born into a family who claimed Davidic descent, he first studied Torah in his native Babylonia. Later he studied in Jerusalem under Shemayah and Avtalyon. Hillel used his own canon of Hermeneutics, the seven rules of Bible interpretation. This was later expanded into thirteen by Ishmael ben Elisha.

The seven rules he used were previously unknown and only accepted after he appealed to the authority of his teachers, Shemayah and Avtalyon. Though at first treated with disdain because of his Babylonian origin, he was eventually appointed as the Nasi (president) of the Sanhedrin. Like his predecessors, he shared authority with a vice-president. First he served with a man named Menahem who resigned, taking with him many of Hillel’s students. Then he served with another famous person you’ve heard of by the name of Shammai. He became Hillel’s colleague and lifelong controversialist. One thing to note about Hillel is the fact he never hesitated to criticize the life style of the rich and powerful families in Jerusalem.

Above all, Hillel was a teacher of Torah. Hillel like Ezra, came from Babylon to restore the Torah when it had been forgotten. There was a tendency in his day to discriminate in the choice of pupils. Good family backgrounds and wealth were preconditions. Hillel rejected this kind of procedure emphatically. He was known to teach Torah to laborers on their way to work, and received questioners at his home. He set very high standards for his students. He believed learning and learning alone, could refine the student’s character and religious personality. Hillel believed strongly in Divine Justice. Once on seeing a skull floating in the water he remarked: “Because you drowned others, they have drowned you; and in the end those who drowned you shall also be drowned.” Hillel was known for his teaching of Torah, Oral Tradions, and Midrash. Popular wisdom, the result of human experience, was also taught by him.

Every action of his was “for the sake of heaven”, motivated by his desire to serve G-D and do His will. His “golden rule” was: “What is hateful to you, don’t do it to your fellowman.” Hillel played a decisive role in the history of the Hebrews. His seven rules revolutionized the Torah study, along with his ethical conduct, his tolerance, and his great humanity. He died at the age of 120. He always said, “Going over a lesson a 100 times doesn’t compare with doing so 101 times.” Bravo Hillel!