Gamaliel II

(1st century)

   Nasi. Gamaliel II succeeded JOCHANAN BENZAKKAI as the leader of the remnants of the Palestine Jewish community that had its centre at Jabneh after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70. As a lineal descendant of HILLEL, he had the hereditary title of nasi, or patriarch, and was accepted by the Roman authorities as the Jewish spokesman. In his personal life, Gamaliel was modest and tolerant. But after the disaster that had befallen his people, he was determined to use his office as a focus of authority, and to establish the bet din (tribunal) over which he presided as the sole organ in matters of religious law. Driven by this need for cohesion, he acted in ways which sometimes appeared to his fellow sages as dictatorial and arbitrary. For instance, he had his own brother-in-law, Rabbi ELIEZER BEN- HYRCANUS, excommunicated for refusing to accept the majority view on a point of interpretation.

   Gamaliel’s most serious conflict was with Rabbi JOSHUA BEN-HANANIAH. When the latter calculated the coming of the new moon on a different day from Gamaliel’s computation, he was ordered to appear before the nasi on what would be the Day of Atonement by his reckoning, carrying money and a staff - both prohibited on the Holy Day. When Joshua did so, Gamaliel rose and kissed him saying, ‘come in peace my teacher and pupil - my teacher in wisdom and my pupil because you have accepted my decision.’ When Gamaliel again humiliated Joshua over another dispute, he was deposed as patriarch and Rabbi Eliezer ben- Azariah was appointed in his place. Gamaliel showed his nobility of character by continuing to participate in the discussions and decisions, and was later reinstated.

   During Gamaliel’s term of office, important features of post-Temple religious practice were settled - such as the form of the Passover feast, the prayers three times a day, and the eighteen benedictions at the Amidah - and impetus was given to the process of halachic interpretation, which led to the compiling of the Mishnah under the auspices of JUDAH HA-NASI. At his own prior request, Gamaliel was not given an ornate funeral but was buried in a simple linen garment, an example which set a pattern for the future.