TARPHON, RABBI. — A Tanna of the third generation, also mentioned by St. Jerome (In Is., 8, 11 ff.: PL 24, 122), who calls him Telphon (ed. Vallarsi). He was of priestly descent and, according to rabbinic tradition, is said to have witnessed the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. The identification with Trypho, against whom St. Justin wrote his Dialogue, is problematic.
T. belonged to the school of Shammai but showed a marked tendency toward a lenient interpretation of legal texts. He is highly praised for his affection toward his parents. T. is cited 49 times in the Mishnah and frequently in other writings. In Pirqe Aboth (II, 20 ff.; ed. Goldschmidt, VII, p. 1157), some of his fine maxims on the necessity of studying the Law are recorded. In the debate between practice and theory, T. sided with the former.
