TANNAIM ("Repeaters" or "Teachers"). - Jewish doctors, earlier than the 3rd century, whose teaching is preserved in the official collection of rabbinic teaching known as the Mishnah (v.).

This title was also conferred on a particular class of scholars, specialized in reciting from memory the ancient Talmudic sayings to which the doctors appealed in discussion; but these tannaïm had no doctrinal importance. The total number of the tannaïm is calculated at 270. They are divided into 5 or 6 generations. In the first, Shammai and Hillel (v.) excel, Rabbān Gamaliel the Elder, Johanan ben Zakkai. Among those belonging to the second: Gamaliel II, Joshua ben Hananiah. Of the third: Tarphon, Ishmael, Akiva, Jose the Galilean. Of the fourth: Meir, Simeon ben Yohai, Judah ben Ilai, Jose ben Halafta, Johanan the Sandal-maker, Abba Saul. Of the fifth: Symmachus, Judah the Holy or the Prince (the one who laid the foundations for the redaction of the Mishnah). Of the sixth are part doctors no longer mentioned in the Mishnah, among them Gamaliel III, Hiyya, Abba Arika (v.) or Rab.

Bibliography

BIBL.: H. L. Strack, Einleitung in Talmud und Midrasch, 5th ed., Munich 1921, passim.

Eugenio Zolli

@incollection{ec11_tannaiti_ripetitori_o_insegnan, author = {Zolli, Eugenio}, title = {Tannaiti (« Ripetitori » O « Insegnanti »)}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XI}, pages = {1732}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1953}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/tannaiti-ripetitori-o-insegnanti} }

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Tannaim ("Repeaters" or "Teachers")

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