Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, known as “Rabbi,” (135–217 CE) lived in the Land of Israel during the Roman occupation. He was very wealthy and highly respected by the Romans. He was a key leader of the Jewish community at that time. According to the Talmud, he was descended from King David, hence the title “Nasi,” prince. He was the author of the Mishnah, the first work of rabbinic Judaism that recorded the Oral Torah. One of his students was Shimon Bar Kappara, who lived around the same time, between 180 and 220 CE, the period between the Tannaim and the Amoraim.

Relations between Bar Kappara and the House of Rabbi were tense, leading Bar Kappara to establish his academy in Caesarea, south of the Land of Israel. It is said that once, while walking along the coast, he saw a Roman who had been saved from a shipwreck emerging from the sea. Bar Kappara took him home, provided him with clothing and everything he needed, including money. This shipwrecked man was the proconsul of Caesarea, and he soon showed his gratitude to Bar Kappara when he freed some Jews who were arrested for participating in a political disturbance.

Bar Kappara admired the natural sciences, a study proscribed by most Jews of the time, who considered it part of «Greek culture.» He also appreciated the Greeks’ love of beauty. He was probably the only sage in the Land of Israel who welcomed the literary activity of the Greek-speaking Jews of Alexandria. Bar Kappara wrote commentaries on the Mishnah, which appear in the Talmud and clarify obscure passages in the text. With these, the editors of the Tosefta were able to make better halachic decisions.

The agadah tells of a time when Rabbi organized a wedding banquet for his son, inviting all the sages except Bar Kappara. Bar Kappara went and wrote on the door: “The end of all joy is death, so what’s the point of rejoicing?” Rabbi asked who had written it and was told it was Bar Kappara, whom he hadn’t invited to the banquet. Rabbi decided to hold another banquet and this time invited all the sages, including Bar Kappara. During the banquet, Rabbi noticed that the guests weren’t touching the food. Rabbi asked his servants why his guests weren’t eating, and they replied: “Every time we bring a dish, an old man tells three hundred fables, and the guests, listening to them, let the food get cold and don’t touch it.” Rabbi, annoyed, asked Bar Kappara why he did that. Bar Kappara replies: “So you won’t say I came for your food; I came to be with my colleagues.” The Midrash tells us that Rabbi and Bar Kappara eventually made peace. However, Rabbi did not grant his student the title of rabbi.

Rabbi said: “I have learned a lot from my teachers, even more from my colleagues, but much more from my students.” Bar Kappara was undoubtedly a different student. The question remains: How much did one learn from the other?

By Marcos Gochman.

Bibliography: Sefer Ha Agadah by Bialik and Ravnitzky and the Jewish Encyclopedia.