View source for Shammai

{{Short description|Jewish scholar (50 BCE-30 CE)}}
[[File:shamai.jpg|thumb|300px|Mausoleum with two ''[[Loculus (architecture)|loculus]]'' graves at [[Khirbet Shema]]' on [[Mount Meron]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Virtual World Project (Creighton University) |url=http://moses.creighton.edu/vr/Shema/site.html |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref> dated to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods, and identified by a medieval tradition as the tomb of Shammai.<ref>{{cite book |author= Eric Meyers |title= The Use of Archaeology in Understanding Rabbinic Materials: An Archaeological Perspective |work= Talmuda de-Eretz Israel: Archaeology and the Rabbis in Late Antique Palestine |pages=312–313 |editor1= Steven Fine |editor2=[[Aaron Koller]] |publisher= Walter de Gruyter |year=2014 |series= Studia Judaica (Book 73) |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AuYxCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA312 |isbn=9781614514855}}</ref>]]

'''Shammai''' (c. 50 BCE &ndash; c. 30 CE, {{langx|he|שַׁמַּאי}}, ''Šammaʾy'') also known as '''Shammai the Elder''' (שַׁמַּאי הַזָּקֵן) was a [[Jew]]ish scholar of the 1st century and an important figure in [[Judaism]]'s core work of [[rabbinic literature]], the [[Mishnah]]. Shammai was the most eminent contemporary of the sage and scholar [[Hillel the Elder|Hillel]]. 

His teachings mostly agree with those of Hillel, except on three issues.<ref>[[Babylonian Talmud]] (''[[Shabbat (Talmud)|Shabbat]]'' 15a), where it says that they disputed only in three matters: a) the amount of flour needed to constitute the separation of the [[Hallah (Talmud)|dough-portion]]; b) the amount of drawn water that would disqualify a ritual bath ([[mikveh]]); c) whether or not a [[Niddah|woman who had her natural purgation]] is able to defile foods through touch retrospectively.</ref> Both were divided over an earlier rabbinic dispute, regarding the actual [[Laying on of hands#Jewish tradition|laying on of hands]] upon a sacrificial animal on a [[Jewish holidays#General concepts|Festival Day]], which Hillel permitted.<ref name="JTHagigah">[[Jerusalem Talmud]] (''[[Hagigah]]'' 2:2 [10b; 12a])</ref> Their disciples, who had differing views to their masters, disputed many other [[Halakha|halakhic]] matters.<ref name="JTHagigah" /> The [[Houses of Hillel and Shammai|School of Shammai]], founded by Shammai, is almost invariably mentioned along with the School of Hillel, founded by Hillel. They differed fundamentally from each other. Although they were contemporaries, Hillel was nearly 60 years old at the time of Shammai's birth.

While the terms "liberal" and "conservative" may not perfectly capture the nuances of their positions, Hillel is generally considered to have been more lenient or flexible in his interpretations of Jewish law compared to Shammai. For instance, in matters such as divorce and Sabbath observance, Hillel often took a more permissive approach, emphasizing compassion and practicality. On the other hand, Shammai tended to be more stringent in his interpretations, prioritizing strict adherence to the law.

== History ==
Shammai, along with [[Hillel the Elder|Hillel]] his contemporary, took on oversight of the [[Sanhedrin]] sometime after [[Abtalion]] and [[Shemaiah (scholar)|Shemayah]] relinquished power.<ref>[[Max Radin]], "Roman Knowledge of Jewish Literature", ''The Classical Journal'', vol. 13, no. 3 (Dec., 1917), p. 164 (note 2) concludes: "From the combination Pollio and Sameas, in the passage quoted, it is evident that Josephus had in mind the pair Abtalyon and Shemayah, who preceded Hillel and Shammai as heads of the Sanhedrin ([[Mishnah]] ''[[Pirkei Avot|Avot]]'' 1:10)."</ref> Shammai's school of thought became known as the [[House of Shammai]] ({{langx|he|בית שמאי}}, ''Beit Shammai''), as Hillel's was known as the [[House of Hillel]] (''Beit Hillel''). After [[Menahem the Essene]] resigned from the office of [[Av Beit Din]] (or vice-president) of the Sanhedrin, Shammai was elected to it, Hillel being at the time [[Nasi (Hebrew title)|Nasi (president)]]. After Hillel died, circa 10 CE, Shammai took his place as president, but no vice-president from the minority was elected so that the school of Shammai attained complete ascendancy.  During this time Shammai passed "18 ordinances" in conformity with his ideas. The [[Talmud]] states that when he passed one of the ordinances, contrary to the opinion of Hillel, the day "was as grievous to Israel as the day when the [[Golden calf|[golden] calf]] was made".<ref>''[[Shabbat (Talmud)|Shabbat]]'', 17a</ref> According to most opinions, the ordinances, which are listed in an appendix to the ArtScroll edition of the [[Mishnah]] of tractate [[Shabbat (Talmud)|Shabbos]], dealt with ritual purity of the [[Terumah]] and increased separation between Jews and [[Gentile|Gentiles]].

== Legacy ==
Hillel's grandson [[Gamaliel]] succeeded to the position of president after Shammai in 30 CE, but the Sanhedrin remained dominated by the house of Shammai until around 70 CE (see [[Council of Jamnia]]). A "voice from heaven" was said to have nullified the legality of the rulings of the house of Shammai,<ref>''[[Jerusalem Talmud|Yerushalmi]]'' ''[[Berakhot (Talmud)|Berakhot]]'', 1:4</ref> which is why [[Rabbinical Judaism]] has followed Hillel.

Shammai took an active part in the political and religious complications of his native land. Of a stern temperament, he cultivated the characteristic of firmness and strictness in law in contrast to the tireless patience which is said to have distinguished Hillel's approach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rabbi Hillel - (Intro to Judaism) - Vocab, Definition, Explanations {{!}} Fiveable |url=https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/introduction-to-judaism/rabbi-hillel |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=library.fiveable.me |language=en}}</ref> Once, when a gentile came to him and asked to be [[Conversion to Judaism|converted to Judaism]] (or Noahide monotheism as H. Falk argues) upon the condition of extreme brevity ("on one foot") which Shammai held to be impossible, he drove the brazen applicant away; whereas Hillel rebuked him gently by saying, "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. This is the whole Torah. The rest is the explanation. Go and learn." The gentile subsequently converted.<ref>''Shabbat'', 31a</ref>

== Religious views ==
Shammai recommended a friendly attitude toward all. His motto was: "Make your study of the [[Torah]] a permanent endeavour; speak little, but accomplish much; and receive every man with a cheerful disposition".<ref>''[[Avoth]]'', 1:15</ref> He was modest even toward his pupils.

At a personal level, Shammai's religious views were known to be strict. He wished to make his son, while still a child, conform to the law regarding fasting on [[Yom Kippur]]; he was dissuaded from his purpose only through the insistence of his friends.<ref>''[[Yoma]]'', 77b</ref> Once, when his daughter-in-law gave birth to a boy on [[Sukkot]] he broke through the roof of the chamber in which she lay in order to make a [[sukkah]] of it, so that his new-born grandchild might fulfil the religious obligation of the festival.<ref>''[[Sukkah (Talmud)|Sukkah]]'', 28a</ref>

In the [[Sifre]]<ref>Sifre ''[[Deuteronomy]]'', §203</ref> it is said that Shammai commented exegetically upon three passages of Scripture: (1) the interpretation of Deuteronomy 20:20;<ref>Tosefta, ''[[Eruvin (Talmud)|Eruvin]]'', 3:7</ref> (2) that of II Samuel 12:9;<ref>''[[Nashim|Kiddushin]]'', 43a</ref> and (3) either the interpretation of ''[[Leviticus]]'' 11:34 (which is given anonymously in Sifra on the passage, but which is the basis for Shammai's [[halakha]] transmitted in Orlah 2:5), or else the interpretation of ''[[Book of Exodus|Exodus]]'' 20:8 ("Remember the Sabbath") (which is given in the [[Mekhilta]]<ref>Mekhilta, Yitro, 7 (ed. Weiss, p.&nbsp;76b)</ref> in the name of Eleazar ben Hananiah, but which must have originated with Shammai, with whose custom of preparing for the Sabbath it accords).

{{s-start}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Menahem the Essene]]
| title = [[Av Beit Din]]
| years = 10 BCE – 30 CE
| after = [[Yohanan ben Zakkai]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Mishnah tree}}

== See also ==
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* [[Shammaite]]
* [[Mishnah]]
* [[Hillel and Shammai]]
* [[Kfar Shamai]] [[Israel]]i [[moshav]] named after Shammai

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=549&letter=S Jewish Encyclopedia: Shammai]
* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=956&letter=B Jewish Encyclopedia: Bet Hillel and Bet Shammai]
* {{CathEncy|wstitle=Shammai}}
{{Rabbinical eras timeline|-50|30|Shammai}}
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{{JewishEncyclopedia}}
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[[Category:Mishnah rabbis]]
[[Category:50 BC births]]
[[Category:30 deaths]]
[[Category:Judaism-related controversies]]
[[Category:1st-century BCE Jews]]
[[Category:1st-century rabbis]]
[[Category:Pirkei Avot rabbis]]
[[Category:Zugot]]