Read the information then click on the links below it to do the exercises.
HILLEL - LOVE OF FELLOW JEWS
Hillel was one of the most famous rabbis of the Second Temple period. He lived from late in the first century B.C.E. until early first century C.E.
Hillel became head of the Sanhedrin (Jewish court). In Hebrew this high position is called Nasi.
Hillel was one of the Tanaim or great rabbinic teachers who are quoted in the Mishnah.
Hillel is remembered as a peacemaker and a gentle teacher of Torah. He was especially concerned about how we love and respect our fellow Jews and the value of kindness and patience.
Learn more about Hillel through the story below. Here's some new vocabulary to help you understand the story.
Bet HaMidrash:
A type of school for adults where Torah is studied
Academies:
Yeshivot
Babylonia:
Today known as Iraq. Many Jews lived there in those days.
Violate Shabbat:
Disobey one of the rules of Shabbat.
Shammai:
Another famous rabbi.Often disagreed with Hillel’s explanations
Pagan:
A person who worshipped idols
Builder’s cubit:
A measure
Meet the man - Hillel
"Welcome, welcome. Please, come in, sit down. Help yourself to some fresh goats milk and cookies. I must tell you, it is always so exciting for me to meet new students. You see, every person has something they would like to learn. And the Torah has something to say about everything! So, I have spent my life teaching Torah. Actually, for a while I was a woodcutter. I know that sounds funny, heh heh heh. In those days, though, I needed money to feed my family and to pay for entrance to the Bet HaMidrash. It wasn’t easy! My family would say to me, “Hillel…”
Oh, how silly of me. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Hillel. I came from Babylonia to Jerusalem in order to study. There were even Torah Schools there. However, the greatest teachers of our day, Shemayah and Avtalion, lived here in Israel. That’s why I came.
It was difficult being a student and taking care of a family, especially since woodcutting was not always dependable work. Yet, the desire for Torah burned within me. Sometimes it burned a hole right through my pockets, heh heh. I remember the day my teachers really took notice of me.
Every day I would work and earn one tropaik. Half would go for food for my family. I would give the other half to the guard at the Bet HaMidrash. One day, I earned no money and the guard at the Bet HaMidrash would not permit me to enter. So I climbed up on the roof and listened through the skylight so that I could hear the words of the living God from the mouths of Shemayah and Avtalion.
It was the eve of Shabbat in the middle of winter, and snow began to fall. When the dawn rose, Shemayah said, “Brother Avtalion, every day this house is light and today it is dark. Is it a cloudy day?” They looked up and found me covered with three cubits of snow. They took me down, bathed me and placed me in front of the fire. They said, “This man deserves that we violate the Sabbath on his behalf.”
They took great interest in me after my rooftop experience. I proved to be a very good student, even though I started a little late in life. Now I am Nasi. This is a difficult position, but I love my work. I love the Jewish people. And that’s important."
The patience of Hillel
A story
Hillel came from the family of David Hamelech (King David), and he was himself the Nasi, the leader of the Jews in Israel.
Never once did he become impatient or angry. He spoke kindly and lovingly to every person.
Once, two men were talking about the Nasi. One of them said, "Hillel the Elder does not get angry at anyone or anything." The other man bet him 400 pieces of silver that he could make Hillel angry.
It was Erev Shabbat. Hillel was busy preparing for the Shabbat. He was bathing and washing his hair when he heard someone calling in a shrill voice, "Which of these houses belongs to Hillel? Where does he live? Which house is his?"
Someone else might certainly have become angry, but Hillel wasn't angry. “Perhaps he has an important question to ask and he needs an immediate answer,” he thought. Hillel hurriedly dressed and went outside.
The man asked a very silly question, left, waited a while, and returned again, shouting and calling, "Where is Hillel? Where is his house?" Hillel got dressed each time, went out and patiently answered the questions.
The angry man lost his bet.
A second story
It once happened that a pagan (someone who prays to idols) came to Rabbi Shammai and said, “I will become a Jew if you are able to teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot”. Shammai was very insulted and chased him away with a building tool that was in his hand.
When the pagan went to Hillel, Hillel said to him: “ What you hate being done to you, do not do to any other person.”
That is the whole Torah. The rest is just explanations of this. Now go and study the Torah!”
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