Levi b. Sisi

Talmudic Figures

An important member of Rabi's entourage, Levi' b. Sisi's relationship with the house of the Nasi was complicated. A brilliant scholar, he also composed a version of the Mishnah. Yet due to his dissatisfaction with his treatment by the academy, he moved to Babylonia and established his own academy there.

Sources

Armies came against Levi ben Sisi’s town. He took a Torah scroll and climbed onto the roof. He said: Master of the worlds. If I neglected one word of this Torah scroll they may come; if not, they shall leave. Immediately they were looked for but not found. His student did the same; his hand was paralyzed and they left. His student’s student did the same; his hand was not paralyzed and they did not leave. To say that the idiot is not hurt and dead flesh does not feel the knife.

Jerusalem Talmud Taanit 3:8:3

The people of Simonia came to Rebbi and told him, please give us a man who preaches, judges, runs the synagogue, teaches reading, teaches Mishnah, and looks after all our needs. He gave them Levi bar Sisi. They made him a big platform and sat him on it. They came and asked him, how does the handless [woman] perform ḥalîṣah? He did not respond. If she spat blood” He did not respond. They said, maybe he is not competent in studies, let us ask him in homiletics. They came and asked him, what is that which is written: “Truly, I shall tell you what is traced in writing, it is true…

Jerusalem Talmud Yevamot 12:6:6

LEVI BEN SISI was the most prominent of Rabbi Jehudah’s last disciples. He is usually referred to without his patronymic and although he was often called a “Great Man,” it appears that he was not ordained, for we find no instance in the Babylonian Talmud where he is referred to as Rabbi. This title was attached to his name in the Jerusalem Talmud and in the Midrashim. It is difficult to understand why Levi had not been ordained because he conducted his own academy and his legal opinions were quoted by many scholars of that time such as Rav (Aba Arecha)…

The Jewish Spiritual Heroes, Volume I; The Creators of the Mishna, Levi ben Sisi

Livedתקופת פעילות

Tannaim/Amoraim - Transition

c.200 – c.220 CE

Learn Moreלקריאה נוספת

Wikipedia

Jewish Encyclopedia

Studentתלמידים

Shmuel (Amora)

Teacherמורה

Rabi

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