Yose ha-Kohen
YOSE HA-KOHEN
YOSE HA-KOHEN (end of the first century c.e.), tanna. Yose, a pupil of *Johanan b. Zakkai, was known for his piety and his teacher designated him a "ḥasid" (one of exceptional piety; Avot 2:8). It is related of him that he never sent a letter through a gentile lest he forward it on the Sabbath (Shab. 19a). His piety is also discernible in his apothegm: "Fit yourself to study Torah for it will not come to you as a heritage; and let all your actions be for the sake of heaven" (Avot 2:12). In answer to the question as to "the good way to which a man should cleave" Yose ha-Kohen answered that a man should maintain good neighborly relations (Avot. 2:9). Like most of the ḥasidim of the Talmud Yose was not conspicuous in his teaching and very little is known about it (Eduy. 8:2). Yose plays a significant role in the later amoraic versions of the stories concerning early tannaitic involvement in the study of *Merkabah mysticism, along with Simeon ben Nethanel (tj, Ḥag. 2:1, 77a), or according to another tradition with *Joshua b. Hananiah (tb, Ḥag. 14b). These traditions, however, probably do not preserve authentic historical information about Yose himself or his historical period. Some identify Yose ha-Kohen with Yose Kittunta, of whom it is said that when he died, piety ceased (Sot. 9:15). On the other hand it is certain that he is not to be identified with the Joseph ha-Kohen mentioned in several places (Mik. 10:1; et al.) without the title "Rabbi."
bibliography:
Hyman, Toledot, 740–1. add. bibliography: S. Wald, "The Mystical Discourse of Eleazar ben Arakh," in: jsij (2006).
[Israel Moses Ta-Shma /
Stephen G. Wald (2nd ed.)]