Hillel – jeden z wielkich nauczycieli judaizmu

Abstract

Babylonian Captivity put an end to the country of Judah. The Israeli statehood ceased to exist for many centuries and its revival in the Hasmonean times was possible only because the identity of the nation deprived of land and freedom was saved. The prophet Ezekiel had an extremely important role in this cause. The next stage for Israel began with the houses of the congregation (bet-ha-kneset), afterwards – from the Greek translation of the Hebrew word – commonly called synagogues. A synagogue became a very important factor in the forming of rabbinical tradition and interpretation of the Torah. This forming imbued in the Land of Israel by Esdras was preserved and developed for a long time, of which little is known. There must have been, however, some established form of instruction, hinted at in the allusions to the Great Synagogue, which was to have owed its beginnings to Esdras himself. It was much later that the rabbis, known from the Talmud, who continued the interpretation of the Torah appeared. They were the direct predecessors of Hillel. Hillel, who is considered to have been the greatest sage and rabbi in the times of the Second Temple, was called the Older (Zaken) due to high esteem in which he was held amongst his countrymen. He was said to have come from Babylon and to have arrived in Jerusalem to be taught by Shemai and Avtalion. The teaching of Hillel is often contrasted with the teaching of Shammai, his contemporary. The differences in their teaching resulted from different understanding of the Torah and the rules of its interpretation. Hillel created his own seven rules of explaining the Torah. In his interpretation Hillel managed to adapt the laws and demands of the Torah to the situation of the time. The introduction of an instittition of prosbol, which became a legal instrument protecting creditors against the consequences of the sabbatical year – the year of remission of all debts, is an example. Hillel is an important figure, an outstanding sclrolar and teacher; he closes the first period of developing rabbinical thought. His disciples will belong to the first generation of rabbis whose instructions constituted the so called Mishnah.