Sh'maya served as the Nasi of the Jewish nation at the end of the Chashmonaim rulership, in middle of the first century BCE, 100 years before the destruction of the second temple. Shmaya belonged to the fourth pair of Zugos along with Avtalyon who served as Av Beis Din. Shmaya was a descendent of converts and according to some opinions a convert himself.

Kever Shemaya and Avtalyon Mayan Safsufa.Sh'maya and Avtalyon are buried in the Arab populated town of Gush Chalav in Northern Israel. They are buried in the vicinity of Adarmelech and Shartzer sons of Sancherev who were blood relatives of Sh'maya and Avtalyon and were reincarnated in them as well.The Arizal used to pray at Kever Shemaya and Avtalyon with his students. Once he told his students that Shemaya and Avtalyon besieged them to pray for the life of Moshiach ben Yosef. Foolishly they did not realize that this was a reference to the Arizal himself and he passed away shortly afterwards.;

Student of the Sages Shmaya studied under Shimon ben Shetach and Yehuda ben Tabai, the third pair of Zugos and leaders of their generation. When the wicked king Yani (Alexander Jannaeus) killed all the Torah Sages, Yehuda ben Tabai escaped to Alexandria, Egypt. It can be assumed that Shmaya went into exile along with his teacher to escape the massacre. They returned after the death of Yani under the reign of Queen Shelomtzion (Alexandra Salome).;Son of Converts Kever of Shmaya & Avtalyon.There is controversy as to whether Sh'maya was himself a convert or it was his father that converted. Most commentaries state that Shmaya was from a family of converts and his mother was Jewish. According to this opinion, Shmaya was born a Jew and was therefore able to serve as Nasi and president of the Sanhedrin.There are others that say Sh'maya himself was a convert and the law prohibiting a convert from serving as a Nasi, applies only when there are alternative candidates. In the case of Shemaiah, there was no one worthier for the position in the entire nation. This was especially true considering that many of the Sages had been killed by the Tzeduki kings that ruled Israel.;Descendent of Sancherev Sign for Kever Shmaya vAvtalyon.Shmaya was a direct descendent of Sancherev, the Assyrian ruler whose army was wiped out by angels during his attempt to capture Jerusalem. Due to his hereditary background Sh'maya was unable to pronounce the letter 'Heh' and would mispronounce words that contained it, using the letter 'Alef' in its place. Kabbalistic Reincarnations According the the Kabbalah, Adramelech and Shartzer the two sons of Sancherev who converted to Judaism were reincarnated in Shemaya and Avtalyon. Adramelech and Shartzer were from the few survivors of Sancherev's army that was struck down in midst of their sleep as they lay siege on Jerusalem. Awed by what they had witnessed, they killed their own father after hearing that Sancherev was planning to sacrificing them to his god Nisroch in exchange for salvation. Adramelech and Shartzer then escaped to Ararat and converted to Judaism. Although their intent was good, Adramelech and Shartzer still had to rectify the deed of murdering their own father. This was rectified in their reincarnation of Shemaiah and Avtalyon.;President of the Sanhedrin Tomb of Shemaya and Avtalyon.After the death of Shimon ben Shetach, Shmaya was appointed Nasi in his place, which made him president of the Sanhedrin. His colleague Avtalyon was made Av Beis Din. Most of their leadership was during the reign of Hurkanus and Aristobulus (Hyrcanus II & Aristobulus II). Together, Shemaya and Avtalyon ran the central Beis Medrash for Torah study. To gain entrance into their Bais Medrash, each student had to pay a daily admittance fee of a half tropaika. This changed after Hillel nearly froze to death trying to listen to a Torah discourse through the study hall skylight on a freezing winter night. This incident happened on Shabbos morning causing Shemaya and Avtalyon to desecrated the Shabbos to save the life of Hillel. When it became known Hillel risked his life since he was unable to afford the entrance fee, paid entry to the Beis Medrash was abolished making Torah study accessible to all. Read full Zissil article on the Avtalyon;Meaning of the Name Shmaya Shmaya is a combination of the words 'Shma', listen and 'Ka', Hashem. When put together it means 'Listen to me Hashem'. It can also be interpreted as a call 'listen all' or 'listen up' which would elude to his destiny of eventually serving as Nasi, and having the entire nation heed his words.;Respected by the People Mikva Shemaya vAvtalyon.Shemaya and Avtalyon were very respected amongst their nation. In the Talmud they are referred to as Gidolay Hador and Darshanim by Rebbe Yehuda ben Dursai. Once they passed the Kohen Gadol as he left the Beis Hamikdash after Yom Kippur in midst of a great procession, celebrating his safe emergence from the Holy of Holies. To the dismay of the Tzeduki Kohen Gadol, all the people abandoned him and gathered around Shmaya and Avtalyon. As they separated, the Kohen Gadol called out "Peace to you sons of the nations", a derogatory reference to their convert lineage. Shemaya and Avtalyon responded pointing out that it was better to be a convert that acts like Ahron the Priest then a Kohen Gadol that acts like the nations. The Freed Slave Woman Sotah Entrance to Safsufa.At the time there was a freed slave women named Karkemit that was accused by her husband of Adultery. Shemaya and Avtalyon who presided over the Sanhedrin held that a freed slave women was allowed to undergo the Sotah procedure and gave her to drink from the bitter waters. One of the sages commented that they probably did so to give validity to converts like themselves and in reality used fake water by erasing a meaningless paper in it. As punishment for offending the honor of Shemaiah and Avtalyon this Sage was placed in excommunication until the day of his death and had his coffin stoned. Students, Colleagues and Successors Shmaya's main students were Hillel and Shami. Hillel was careful to use the exact wording of his teachers when he quoted them. Leadership of Shemaya and Avtalyon lasted for a short period of six years. After Shimaya and Avtalyon passed away, the Jewish leadership was given to the Beni Besera who eventually passed it on to Hillel and Menachem. Eventually Menachem was replaced by Shami. Hillel openly declared that his superiority in Torah knowledge over the Beni Besera was due to his nullification to Shmaya and Avtalyon.;Teachings Shemaya Says.Shmaya is rarely mentioned in the Mishnah. In Avos he says "Love working for a living. Hate serving in positions of authority. Do not get friendly with the government." His last statement about the government can easily be a reference to the corrupt rulership during his time and their massacre of the Perushuim and Torah scholars.In the Mechilta of Rebbe Yishmael, Shemaiah credits the splitting of the Yam Suf in merit of the faith that Avraham had in Hashem.;Mikva of Shemaya and Avtalyon Across from Moshav Safsufa, around 4 km north of Meron, exists a natural spring water Mikva that is attributed to Shemaya and Avtalyon. According to this tradition Shmaya used to immerse in the Mikva at some stage during his lifetime.;More Pictures Shemaya & Avtalyon Galleryv d e [hide] Kivrei Tzadikim - Kevarim, Tombs, Graves of the Righteous and Holy Places in IsraelAlmaRabbi Azariah · Rabbi Elazar ben Arach · Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah · Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel · Rabbi Yehuda ben Teima · Rabbi Yossi HakohenAmukaYonatan Ben Uziel · MokratBar'amEsther HaMalka · Mar Zutra · Nachman Chatufa · Ovadia HaNavi · Rabbi Pinchas · Yeshayahu HaNaviBiryaBenayahu ben Yehoyada · Cave of Abba ShaulChatzorAba Chilkiya · Chanan Hanechba · Choni HameagelDaltonRabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Yossi Haglili · Rabbi Eliyahu Hakohen Gaon · Hillel Nesiah · Rabbi Shmuel ben Rabbi Yossi Haglili · Rabbi Yehuda ben Teima · Rabbi Yossi HagliliEin ZeitimEin Lior Mayan · Rabbi Cruspidi the Tana · Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya · Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai · Rav Yeva Saba DeMishpatim · Rabbi Yochanan ben Baroka · Rabbi Yossi of Pekien · Rabbi Yosi SaragosiGush ChalavAvtalyon · Rabbi Yochai · Shmaya · Yoel HaNaviKaditaRabbi Bana'ah · Children of Rabbi Yossi · Rabbi Cruspidi the Amora · Elkana · Idra Rabba · Rabbi Tarfon · Rabbi Yosi ben Yaakov · Rabbi Yossi Dmon YukrasKerem Ben ZimraRabbi Yossi ben ZimraKfar ChananyaAbba Chalafta · Rabbi Chananyah ben Akashya · Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaacov · Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta · Rabbi Zechariah ben HakatzavMeronRav Ada Saba · Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon · Rav Hamnuna Saba the Amora · Hillel HaZaken · Shammai HaZaken · Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai · Rabbi Tarfon · Rav Yeva Saba · Rabbi Yitzchak · Rabbi Yochanan Hasandlar · Rabbi Yossi ben KismaNabrateinAncient Nabratein Synagogue · Rabbi Elazar HaModai · Rabbi Yaakov Ish NevoraiaOvnitAbaye · Rav Chisda · Rav Dimi from Naharda · Sons of Rav Papa · Rava · Rabbi Yehuda Nesiah IPeki'inCave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai · Rabbi Oshiya Ish TariyaTzfatAbuhav Synagogue · Adino Haetzni · Alsheich Synagogue · Rabbi Amram Chasida · Antigonus Ish Socho · The Arizal · Ari Ashkenazi Synagogue · Ari Mikva · Ari Sephardi Synagogue · Rabbi Aryeh Yehudah Leib of Volochisk · Rabbi Avraham Dov of Avritch · Bat Ayin Synagogue · Be'eri HaNavi · Bet HaKvaros Tzfas · Binyamin Hatzadik · Cave of Shem and Ever · Rabbi Chaim of Chernovitz · Rabbi Chaim Siton · Chana & 7 Sons · Rabbi Chiya From the Zohar · Rabbi Chutzpis HameTurgeman · Rabbi Dosa ben Harkinas · Rabbi Dovid Shlomo Eibeschitz · Rabbi Moshe Alshich · Rabbi Moshe Cordovero · Moshe Luria · the Mabit · Rabbi Nachum Ish Gamzu · Natan Dezuzita · Rabbi Natan HaBavli · Rabbi Nechunya ben HaKane · Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair · Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta · Rabbi Shimon Breslever · Son of Rav Safra · Rabbi Shmuel Heller · Rabbi Yakov Beirav · Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky · Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya · Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Nun · Yehoyada Hakohen · The Yenukah · Rabbi Yosef Karo · Yosef Caro Synagogue · Rabbi Yosef Ohayon · Rabbi Yossi Banaa · Yossi Banaah SynagogueTzipporiRabbi Yehudah HaNasi ·TveriaRabbi Chaim Abulafia · Rabbi Dovid HaNagid · Rabbi Elazar ben Arach · Rebbe Meir Baal Haness · Rachel Wife of Rabbi Akiva · Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel · Rabbi Yaakov Shimshon of Shepetovka · Rabbi Yisroel Karduner · Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai · Rabbi Yossi HakohenYerushalayimRabbi Aryeh Kaplan · Chizkiyahu Hamelech · Dovid HaMelech · Shimon HaTzadik · Shmuel Hanavi · Rabbi Yehuda Fatiyah · Rabbi Yisroel Ber OdesserArbelTempBaniasRav Ashi · Shevuel ben GershomChaifaTempChakukRabbi Bachya ben Asher · Chavakuk HanaviChevronAvraham AvinuKabulRabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra · Micha Hanavi · Rabbi Shlomo ibn Gabirol · Rabbi Yehuda HaleviKfar ChittimTempKafr KannaTempKfar MandaTempKfar NachumTempKiryat MalachiTempUshaTempYarchaChushai the ArachiteOrganizationsTemp · TempSasaRabbi Levi bar SisiSakhnintempEilabunRabbi Matya ben CharashAchbaraAdmon ben Gaddai · Akavia ben Mahalalel · Mar Ukva · Rabbi Oshiya Zeira Dman Chevraya · Rav Sama · Rabbi Yannai · Rabbi ZerikaAkkoTempArrabaRabbi Chanina ben DosaParodTempKarmielBar KapparaKadeshAsher ben Yaakov · Barak ben Avinoam · Devorah HaNevia · Naftali ben Yaakov · Yael Wife of Chever HaKeiniCaesareaTempRomyTempKitzienRabbi Shimon ben Lakish · Rabbi Yochanan of KatzrinShazurRabbi Yishmael ben ElishaUkraineRabbi Avraham Chazan · Rebbe Nachman of Breslev · Rabbi Shimshon BarskyRetrieved from "http://www.zissil.com/topics/Shmaya-the-Nasi"Categories: Tannaim | Tzadikim | Kivray-Tzadikim GS_googleAddAdSenseService("ca-pub-2129597449301644");GS_googleEnableAllServices();GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-2129597449301644", "Breslov-Books-Right-Side-Wide");GA_googleFetchAds();GA_googleFillSlot("Breslov-Books-Right-Side-Wide"); Privacy – Disclaimer – Terms of Use .addthis_default_style .at300bs.at15nc.at15t_compact { margin-top:3px;padding-right:2px } Share | Share | var _gaq = _gaq || [];_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-623444-2']);_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);(function() {var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type ='text/javascript'; ga.async = true;ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' :'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);})(); Personal toolsLog in / create accountNamespacesPage Discussion Variants ViewsRead Edit View history Actions SearchZissilSidebarMenu#p-ZissilSidebarMenu * { text-align:left!important; }#p-ZissilSidebarMenu h5{display:none!important;}Kivrei TzadikimList of HillulasAchbaraAdmon ben GaddaiAkavia ben MahalalelRabbi Oshiya ZeiraMar UkvaRav SamaRabbi YannaiRabbi ZerikaAlmaRabbi AzariahRabbi Elazar ben ArachRabbi Eleazar ben AzariahRabbi Shimon ben NetanelRabbi Yehuda ben TeimaRabbi Yossi HakohenAmukaYonatan Ben UzielMokratArrabaRabbi Chanina ben DosaBaniasRav AshiShevuel ben GershomBar'amEsther HaMalkaMar ZutraNachman ChatufaRabbi PinchasYeshayahu HaNaviBiryaBenayahu ben YehoyadaAbba ShaulChakukChavakuk HanaviRabbi Bachya ben AsherChatzorAba ChilkiyaChanan HanechbaChoni HameagelChevronAvraham AvinuDaltonRabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Yossi HagliliRabbi Eliyahu Hakohen GaonHillel NesiahRabbi Yehuda ben TeimaRabbi Yossi HagliliEilabunRabbi Matya ben CharashEin ZeitimRabbi Cruspidi the TanaEin Lior MayanRabbi Shimon ben MenasyaRabbi Yehuda bar IlaiRav Yeva Saba DeMishpatimRabbi Yochanan ben BarokaRabbi Yossi of PekienRabbi Yosi SaragosiGush ChalavAvtalyonShmayaRabbi YochaiYoel HaNaviKabulRabbi Avraham Ibn EzraMicha HanaviRabbi Shlomo ibn GabirolRabbi Yehuda HaleviKaditaRabbi BanaahChildren of Rabbi YossiRabbi Cruspidi the AmoraElkanaIdra RabbaRabbi TarfonRabbi Yossi ben YaakovRabbi Yossi Dmon YukrasKerem Ben ZimraRabbi Yossi ben ZimraKfar ChananyaAbba ChalaftaRabbi Chananyah ben AkashyaRabbi Eliezer ben YaacovRabbi Yossi ben ChalaftaRabbi Zechariah ben HakatzavKitzienRabbi Shimon ben LakishRabbi Yochanan of KatzrinKodeshAsher ben YaakovBarak ben AvinoamDevorah HaNeviaNaftali ben YaakovOvadia HaNaviYaelMeronRav Ada SabaRabbi Elazar ben Rabbi ShimonRav Hamnuna Saba the AmoraHillel the ElderShammai the ElderRabbi Shimon Bar YochaiRabbi TarfonRav Yeva Saba the AmoraRabbi Yitzchak from MeronRabbi Yochanan HasandlarRabbi Yossi ben KismaNabrateinAncient Nabratein SynagogueRabbi Elazar HaModaiRabbi Yaakov of Kefar NevoraiaOvnitAbayeRav ChisdaRav Dimi from NahardaSons of Rav PapaRava the AmoraRabbi Yehuda Nesiah IPeki'inRabbi Oshiya Ish TariyaRabbi Shimon Bar Yochai CaveSasaRabbi Levi bar SisiTzfatAbuhav SynagogueAdino HaetzniAlsheich SynagogueAncient Tzfat CemeteryAntigonus Ish SochoAri Ashkenazi SynagogueAri MikvaAri Sephardi SynagogueRabbi Aryeh Yehudah Leib of VolochiskRabbi Avraham Dov of AvritchAvritch Bat Ayin SynagogueBeeri HaNaviBinyamin HatzadikCave of Shem and EverRabbi Amram ChasidaRabbi Chaim SitonRabbi Chaim of ChernovitzChana and Her Seven SonsRabbi Chiya From the ZoharRabbi Chutzpis HameTurgemanRabbi Dosa ben HarkinasRabbi Dovid Shlomo EibeschitzRabbi Moshe AlshichRabbi Moshe CordoveroMoshe LuriaRabbi Moshe ben Yosef di TraniRabbi Nachum Ish GamzuRabbi Natan HaBavliRabbi Nechunya ben HaKaneRabbi Pinchas Ben YairRabbi Shimon ben ChalaftaRabbi Shimon from KremenchukRabbi Shmuel HellerRabbi Yakov BeiravRabbi Yaakov Dovid WilovskyRabbi Yehoshua Ben NunRabbi Yehoshua ben ChananyaRabbi Yitzchak LuriaRabbi Yosef KaroRabbi Yosef OhayonRabbi Yossi BanaaSon of Rav SafraThe YenukahYosef Caro SynagogueYossi Banaah SynagogueYossi ben YochananYossi ben YoezerTzipporiRabbi Yehudah HaNasiTveriaRabbi Chaim AbulafiaRabbi Dovid HaNagidRabbi Elazar ben ArachRebbe Meir Baal HanessRachel Wife of Rabbi AkivaRabbi Shimon ben NetanelRabbi Yaakov Shimshon of ShepetovkaRabbi Yisroel KardunerRabbi Yochanan ben ZakkaiRabbi Yossi HakohenYarchaChushai the ArachiteYerushalayimRabbi Aryeh KaplanChizkiyahu HamelechDovid-HaMelechShimon HaTzadikShmuel HanaviRabbi Yehuda FatiyahRabbi Yisroel Dov Ber OdesserUkraineRabbi Avraham ChazanRebbe Nachman of BreslevRabbi Shimshon BarskyNavigationZissil HomeContentsAboutDonateAdvertiseContactJoin as a WriterRecent changesRandom pageHelpToolboxWhat links hereRelated changesSpecial pagesPrintable versionPermanent linkCopyright © 2009 Zissil.com - Content may be reused only by following our terms and conditions - Any other use of the site's content will be strictly enforced and prosecuted;