One of the Tannaim whose discussions appear throughout the Babylonian Talmud. He was related through marriage to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. According to one version, he was his father-in-law, according to another – his son-in-law. While Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair’s Talmudic statements are few in number (he is mentioned only eight times), nevertheless, they are characteristically deep in content, and deal in most cases with matters of ethics and the refinement of one’s personal attributes.
“Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair would say: Since the destruction of the Holy Temple, the members and free men are put to shame, those who conform to the Law are held in contempt, the violent and the informer have the upper hand, and no one cares for the people or asks pity for them. Upon whom can we rely? Upon our Father in Heaven”.
“Says Rabbi Zeira in the name of Raba bar Zimona: If our ancestors were angels, we are human beings; and if they were human beings, we are donkeys, but not like the donkey of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa and of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair, rather like other donkeys.”
In addition, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s seifer Mesillat Yesharim is based upon one of his sayings: “Torah leads to carefulness; carefulness to diligence; diligence to cleanliness; cleanliness to retirement; retirement to purity; purity to piety; piety to humility; humility to fear of sin; fear of sin to holiness; holiness to the reception of the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit to the Resurrection of the Dead.”
Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair
One of the Tannaim whose discussions appear throughout the Babylonian Talmud. He was related through marriage to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. According to one version, he was his father-in-law, according to another – his son-in-law. While Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair’s Talmudic statements are few in number (he is mentioned only eight times), nevertheless, they are characteristically deep in content, and deal in most cases with matters of ethics and the refinement of one’s personal attributes.
“Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair would say: Since the destruction of the Holy Temple, the members and free men are put to shame, those who conform to the Law are held in contempt, the violent and the informer have the upper hand, and no one cares for the people or asks pity for them. Upon whom can we rely? Upon our Father in Heaven”.
“Says Rabbi Zeira in the name of Raba bar Zimona: If our ancestors were angels, we are human beings; and if they were human beings, we are donkeys, but not like the donkey of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa and of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair, rather like other donkeys.”
In addition, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s seifer Mesillat Yesharim is based upon one of his sayings: “Torah leads to carefulness; carefulness to diligence; diligence to cleanliness; cleanliness to retirement; retirement to purity; purity to piety; piety to humility; humility to fear of sin; fear of sin to holiness; holiness to the reception of the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit to the Resurrection of the Dead.”