Mishnah, authorities of
Mishnah, authorities of
The authorities cited in the Mishnah as rings in “golden chain” of the Jewish masorah (tradition) are
Sopherim (scribes) known also as Anshe Keneseth Hagedolah (men of the great synod), beginning with Ezra of the Bible and terminating with Simeon the Just.
Five Zugoth (duumviri) the last pair being the noted Hillel and Shamai. The former was according to E. Renan’s hypothesis, a teacher of Jesus,
Tannaim (repeaters) — They numbered 277 and are divided into 5 generations. In the first generation were men who still held office in the temple of Jerusalem and witnessed its destruction (70 A.D.).
The second generation counts the celebrated Nasi Rabban Gamaliel II and R. Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, excommunicated for opposing the rule of the majority, R. Ishmael who was held hostage in Rome, and R. Akiba, supporter of Bar Koheba who suffered a martyr’s death by the Romans, Elisha b, Abuiah, the heretic.
The third generation consisted of the disciples of R. Ishmael and R. AkibaR. Meir, Simeon b. Johal to whom the authorship of the Zohar is ascribed.
R. Juda Hanasi, compiler of the Mishnah and possibly friend of Marcus Aurelius (161-180), belonged to the fourth generation, while R. Hiyya, author of the Tosephta, belonged to the fifth and last generation. — H.L.G.