Rabban Gamliel • Gamaliel the Elder
Rabban Gamliel the Elder
Era of the TannaimRabban Gamliel the Elder was among the first of the Tannaim and the president (Nasi) of the Sanhedrin in the late Second Temple period, around the years 10–50 CE. He was the son of Shimon ben Hillel and the grandson of Hillel the Elder, and continued the line of the House of Hill…
Biography
Rabban Gamliel the Elder was among the first of the Tannaim and the president (Nasi) of the Sanhedrin in the late Second Temple period, around the years 10–50 CE. He was the son of Shimon ben Hillel and the grandson of Hillel the Elder, and continued the line of the House of Hillel in the presidency. He was the first to bear the title 'Rabban', and the epithet 'the Elder' was added to distinguish him from his grandson, Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh. In his days the Sanhedrin was exiled from the Chamber of Hewn Stone and sat in the Hanot on the Temple Mount — a step taken to ease capital law in a time of many murderers. Some attribute to his days the arrangement of the eighteen blessings of the Amidah and the enactment of the blessing against the heretics by Shmuel HaKatan.
Life Story
Childhood
He was born at the end of the first century BCE to his father Shimon ben Hillel, and was the grandson of Hillel the Elder — one of the greatest sages of Israel at the close of the Second Temple period. He grew up in a house of Torah and leadership, and inherited the line of the House of Hillel in the presidency of the Sanhedrin.
Teachers
He studied Torah from his father, Shimon ben Hillel, who was the son of Hillel the Elder and the continuer of his path. Thus he added to the chain of transmission of the Torah of the House of Hillel from generation to generation.
Students
Among his disciples was his son, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel the Elder, who inherited his place in the presidency and was later counted among the Ten Martyrs. His son-in-law was Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel the Priest, a disciple of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai.
Family
He was the son of Shimon ben Hillel and the grandson of Hillel the Elder. He gave his daughter in marriage to Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel the Priest. His son, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel the Elder, inherited his place as Nasi and was counted among the Ten Martyrs. From his seed came also Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh and the other presidents of the Sanhedrin of the following generations.
Key Events
In his days a formative event occurred: the Sanhedrin was exiled from the Chamber of Hewn Stone in the Temple and sat in the Hanot on the Temple Mount. The step was taken so that there would be no capital liability upon the murderers, since a minor Sanhedrin judges to death only when the Great Sanhedrin sits in the Chamber of Hewn Stone — and this was because of the proliferation of murderers and the inability to judge them. Some hold that in his days the eighteen blessings of the Amidah were arranged, and the blessing against the heretics was enacted by Shmuel HaKatan.
Miracles
In rabbinic literature no overt miracles are attached to Rabban Gamliel the Elder, but his figure is portrayed as a balanced and patient leader in a time of crisis. In early Christian tradition he is said to have taken a moderate stance toward the disciples of Jesus and to have advised the Sanhedrin to leave them alone, lest he find himself fighting a war of Heaven.
Influence
The influence of Rabban Gamliel the Elder is seen on two planes: on the inner-Jewish plane, he further established the institution of the presidency of the House of Hillel and the orders of prayer and halakhah at the close of the Temple period; on the broader historical plane, his figure is recalled also in early Christian sources, where he is described as a moderate teacher and the teacher of Saul of Tarsus (Paul). He was the first to bear the title 'Rabban', a title given henceforth to the presidents of the Sanhedrin alone.
Death
He passed away in the first century CE, in Provincia Iudaea. His place in the presidency was inherited by his son, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel the Elder.
His Way and Views
Torah Study
Rabban Gamliel the Elder continued the way of the House of Hillel in the study of Torah — a path of patience, compromise and moderate adjudication. As president of the Sanhedrin he stood at the head of the Torah center in Jerusalem at the close of the Temple period, and was responsible for transmitting the halakhah to the next generation.
Halacha
Many halakhot were transmitted in his name, and in his days the Sanhedrin continued to judge matters of halakhah and public. In his time an unusual halakhic step was taken — the exile of the Sanhedrin from the Chamber of Hewn Stone — to ease capital law in a time of many murders.
Faith
The way of the House of Hillel, which he continued, emphasized patience, love of peace and the pursuit of peace. Under his leadership the unity of the people was preserved in a period of internal tensions and external pressures.
Ethics
The House of Hillel was known for humility and moderate adjudication, and Rabban Gamliel the Elder continued this path. His moderate stance toward opponents and dissenters is recalled even in early Christian sources.
Customs
Some attribute to his days the arrangement of the eighteen blessings of the Amidah, and the enactment of the blessing against the heretics by Shmuel HaKatan — an enactment meant to remove the heretics from the congregation of those who pray.
Character
He is recalled as a balanced, patient and moderate leader in a time of crisis. His figure reflects the way of the House of Hillel — humility, peace and careful adjudication.
Public Role
As president of the Sanhedrin he was responsible for leading the people in spirit and in deed at the close of the Second Temple period, a time of turmoil and crisis. He managed the institution of the Sanhedrin at the time of its exile from its place, and preserved the continuity of Torah leadership.
Famous Stories
In the days of Rabban Gamliel the Elder the Sanhedrin was uprooted from the Chamber of Hewn Stone in the Temple and moved to sit in the Hanot on the Temple Mount. The step was taken with wisdom and compassion: since a minor Sanhedrin judges to death only when the Great Sanhedrin sits in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, they removed the Sanhedrin from its place so that there would be no capital liability upon the murderers — because of the proliferation of murders and the inability to judge them according to law.
In early Christian tradition Rabban Gamliel the Elder is recalled as a moderate and patient sage. In the Book of Acts it is told that he took a stand on behalf of the disciples of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, and advised to leave them alone: 'If this plan and this work is of men — it will be overthrown; but if it is of God — you will not be able to overthrow them.' According to that same tradition he was also the teacher of Saul of Tarsus (Paul). These testimonies should be read with caution, since they come from a source external to rabbinic literature.
Students
Teachers
Timeline
Birth in Jerusalem
Beginning of his tenure as president of the Sanhedrin
Exile of the Sanhedrin to the Hanot; arrangement of the prayer (per some views)
Passing in Provincia Iudaea
Legacy
The legacy of Rabban Gamliel the Elder is seen on two sides. In Israel he was the first to bear the title 'Rabban' and established the line of the presidency of the House of Hillel, which continued to lead Israel for many generations. In his days the unity of the people and the institution of the Sanhedrin were preserved at the close of the Temple period, in a time of turmoil and chaos. His figure is recalled also in early Christian tradition, where he is described as a moderate sage and the teacher of Saul of Tarsus — an external testimony to his influence and standing.