Eleazar

Eleazar. The name of various prominent Jewish tannaim and amoraim. Eleazar ben Arakh (late 1st cent. CE) was the most outstanding pupil of R. Johanan b. Zakkai who described him as ‘a spring flowing with ever-increasing force’. Eleazar ben Azariah (1st–2nd cent. CE) was a priestly descendant of Ezra and became nasi to replace Rabban Gamaliel II. Eleazar ben Damma (early 2nd cent. CE) was the nephew of R. Ishmael. Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota (early 2nd cent CE) was a student of R. Joshua. He was famous for his generosity. Eleazar ben Matya (early 2nd cent. CE) was a pupil of Tarfon. He is said to have understood seventy languages (TJ, Shek 5. 1, 48a). Eleazar ben Parta (early 2nd cent. CE) was arrested by the Romans for publicly teaching Torah, but was miraculously delivered. Eleazar ben Shammua (c.150 CE) was a student of Akiva and the teacher of Judah ha-Nasi. Eleazar ben Simeon (late 2nd cent. CE) was thought to be the author of much of the Zohar. Eleazar ben Yose I (late 2nd cent. CE) is said to have exorcized the Roman emperor's daughter. Eleazar ben Zadok (late 1st cent. CE) practised asceticism to try to prevent the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Eleazar Hisma (early 2nd cent. CE) transmitted halakhot in the name of Joshua b. Hananiah, and Eleazar of Modin (late 1st cent. CE), said to be the uncle of Simeon bar Kokhba, was much respected by R. Gamaliel.