Gamaliel II.
Rabban Gam (a) liel II. (רבן גמליאל דיבנה = Rabban Gamliel de-Jabneh; also called Rabban Gamliel beRibbi; † around 114 possibly in Lydda ) was a Jewish patriarch .
Gamaliel II, Tannait of the second generation (around 90–130 AD ), son of Simeon ben Gamliel I and grandson of "Gamaliel the Old" , to distinguish it from his grandfather often called Gamaliel von Javne , pupil of Hillel , Successor of Jochanan ben Sakkai , was from around 80 / 90-110 head ( nasi ) of the teaching house of Javne and leader of rabbinic Judaism , even if his position was not undisputed. This shows his temporary dismissal, during which Eleazar ben Azariah, from a priestly family, took over the leadership. Gamaliel II is portrayed as a man who was courteous, merciful and friendly in his private life, but merciless, strict and uncompromising in his professional function.
Gamaliel II is a key figure in the reorganization of Judaism that began after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 C.E. a. had become necessary in defense against growing Christianity when synagogal prayer took the place of daily temple sacrifices. At the same time, theologically questionable writings proliferated, especially the so-called Apocalypses . Gamaliel II fended off this by completing the Bible canon and fixing the consonant text of the Hebrew Bible.
Many disputes about the Halacha were decided under his leadership by majority decision, whereby Hillel's rather liberal view prevailed.
He ensured the final exclusion of the Jewish Christians from the synagogue and ordered the addition of the "birkat ha-minim" (cursing of the heretics) (formulated by Samuel the Little ) into the eighteen prayers .
Gamliel continued the Hillelite tradition, but also demonstrated severity and relentlessness. His aim was to preserve Jewish unity under difficult conditions in a time of transition and to make the teaching house in Javne an authority recognized by all Jews. He made many trips to Rome, engaged in disputes with Roman scholars, and tried to preserve the rest of Jewish sovereignty and expand it if possible.
When he died cannot be said with any certainty. Some sources name his death in Lydda in 114. His grave is unknown.
Sources (selection)
- Religion in the past and present. (RGG), 3rd edition, Tübingen 1959.
- Solomon Schechter , Wilhelm Bacher : Gamaliel II. In: Isidore Singer (Ed.): Jewish Encyclopedia . Funk and Wagnalls, New York 1901-1906.
Web links
- Alexander Dubrau: Gamaliel II, Rabban. In: Michaela Bauks, Klaus Koenen, Stefan Alkier (Eds.): The Scientific Biblical Lexicon on the Internet (WiBiLex), Stuttgart 2006 ff.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Günter Stemberger: Introduction in Talmud and Midrash , 8th edition, Munich, 1992, p. 86
- ↑ Michael Krupp : The Talmud / An introduction to the basic script of Judaism with selected texts , Gütersloher Verlagshaus, 1995, p. 35
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Gamaliel II. |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Gamliel II .; Rabban Gamliel de-Jabneh; Rabban Gamliel beRibbi |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Jewish teacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1st century |
| DATE OF DEATH | at 114 |
| Place of death | unsure: Lydda |