Johanan (2nd century rabbi)

Rabbinical eras
Chazal Zugot Tannaim Amoraim Savoraim Geonim Rishonim Acharonim
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Johanan ben Torta (Hebrew: יוחנן בן תורתא, read as Yochanan ben Torta) was a rabbi of the early 2nd century (third generation of tannaim).

He was one of the main opponents of the Bar Kokhba revolt:

Shimon bar Yochai recounts: Rabbi Akiva would elucidate, "A star has came forth out of Jacob"^[1] [as] '[Bar] Kozba' ^[2] has came forth out of Jacob'. When Akiva would see 'Bar Kokhba', he would say: 'This is the King Messiah'. [And then] R. Johanan ben Torta would tell him: "Akiva, Grass shall grow from your cheeks and yet the son of David shall not appear."^[3]

Name

His name translates to "Johanan, son of the cow", and he is associated with the story of the "cow which kept Shabbat", in which a Jewish-owned cow was accustomed not to work on Shabbat (see Exodus 20:9). Upon being sold to a non-Jew, the cow refused to work on Shabbat, until the non-Jew complained about the defective animal he was sold. The Jew instructed the cow to work on Shabbat since it was no longer Jewish-owned, and the cow began to work. The non-Jew was so impressed by this that he decided to convert to Judaism. In different versions of the story, Johanan ben Torta was either the Jew who sold the cow, or the non-Jew who converted.^[4]

References

^ Numbers 24:17
^ 'Kozba' ("lie") instead of Simon bar Kokhba, an emphasis of the author siding with Torta's commentary
^ Yerushalmi Ta'anit 4:8 68d; Eichah Rabbah 2:4
^ The Cow That Kept Shabbat

v t e Tannaim
Last Generation of Zugot Era	Hillel the Elder Shammai Houses of Hillel and Shammai Bnei Bathyra Menahem Hananiah ben Hezekiah ben Garon Simeon ben Hillel
First Generation	Gamaliel I, the Elder Shimon ben Gamliel (I) Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen Yohanan ben Zakkai Jonathan ben Uzziel Baba ben Buta Hanina ben Dosa Hanina Segan ha-Kohanim Abba Saul ben Batnit Admon Dosa ben Harkinas Judah ben Bathyra Eliezer ben Jacob I Nahum the Mede
Second Generation	Gamaliel II Joshua ben Hananiah Eliezer ben Hurcanus Eleazar ben Arach Nehunya ben HaKanah Nachum Ish Gamzu Abba Hilkiah Rabbi Zadok Akabia ben Mahalalel Simeon HaPakoli Shmuel ha-Katan
Third Generation	Rabbi Akiva Rabbi Tarfon Judah ben Bava Rabbi Ishmael Eleazar ben Azariah Jose the Galilean Eliezer ben Jose Haninah ben Teradion Eleazar ben Perata I Johanan ben Baroka Simeon ben Zoma Simeon ben Azzai Onkelos Hanina ben Antigonus Hanina ben Hakinai Yochanan ben Nuri Eleazar Chisma Elisha ben Abuyah Rabbi Ilai I Eleazar of Modi'im Halafta Haninah ben Ahi R. Joshua Abtolemus Jose ben Kisma Jeshbab the Scribe Aquila of Sinope Johanan ben Torta Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota Matteya ben Heresh Hanan the Egyptian Simeon the Yemenite Abba Jose ben Hanan Judah ben Dama
Fourth Generation	Simeon ben Gamaliel II Judah bar Ilai Jose ben Halafta Shimon ben Halafta Rabbi Jonathan Rabbi Meir (and wife Bruriah) Shimon bar Yochai Eleazar ben Shammua Rabbi Nehemiah Rabbi Nathan Joshua ben Karha Abba Saul Johanan HaSandlar Pinchas ben Yair Simeon Shezuri Hananiah ben Akavia Eliezer ben Jacob II
Fifth Generation	Judah haNasi (Judah I) Huna Kamma Jose ben Judah Ishmael ben Jose Eleazar ben Simeon Simeon ben Eleazar Eleazar ha-Kappar Symmachus ben Joseph Issi ben Judah Bar Kappara Jose ben Zimra Levi ben Sisi Rabbi Bana'ah Simeon ben Menasya Yadua the Babylonian Joshua ben Levi Abba Kohen Bardela

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This page was last edited on 23 January 2022, at 06:41

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