SAMMAJ. — Distinguished Jewish doctor who taught between 20 B.C. and A.D. 25/30.
He was a contemporary of HILLEL (q.v.) and his rival. Compared to HILLEL, S. was considered strict. In the disputes of a preceptive nature between him and HILLEL, S. is mentioned first because he was older. A similar difference of opinion is found in the two schools; although strict in his decisions, S. was also of a mild disposition.
BIBL.: H. L. Strack, Einleitung in Talmud und Midrā, 2nd ed., Munich 1921, passim; J. Bonsirven, Le judaïsme palestinien, Paris 1935, I and II, passim.