# Johanan HaSandlar

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**Johanan HaSandlar** ([Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language):יוחנן הסנדלר; lit. "Johanan the Shoemaker" or "Johanan the Sandalmaker", Hebrew: יוחנן הסנדלר; alternatively "Johanan the Alexandrian") was a [rabbi](/source/Rabbi) who lived in the second century (fourth generation of [tannaim](/source/Tannaim)).

## Biography

He was a great-grandson of [Gamaliel](/source/Gamaliel), a prominent member of the [Sanhedrin](/source/Sanhedrin); he also purportedly traced his ancestry back to [David](/source/David).[1] [Rashi](/source/Rashi), the great medieval commentator, is disputed to be a 33rd-generation descendant of Rabbi Yochanan.[citation needed]

The name "HaSandlar" may imply that Yohanan earned his living as a [shoemaker](/source/Shoemaking), but it could also indicate that he was a native of [Alexandria](/source/Alexandria) in [Roman Egypt](/source/Roman_Egypt).[2]

He was one of the main students of [Rabbi Akiva](/source/Rabbi_Akiva) (c. 50–135) and a contemporary of Rabbi [Shimon bar Yochai](/source/Shimon_bar_Yochai) (mid-second century[3]).[4]

Once, he went with several colleagues to the Valley of [Rimmon](/source/Rumana,_Israel) to institute a leap-year. [Rabbi Meir](/source/Rabbi_Meir) had just cited an opinion which he ascribed to Akiba, but the authenticity of which Johanan denied, adding, "I have waited on R. Akiba standing [by his side as an advanced student] longer than you did sitting [as a mere hearer]." The learned company took umbrage at this derogatory remark, and murmured, "Johanan ha-Sandalar is a true Alexandrian [given to boasting]." The incident, however, ended in reconciliation, and the disputants did not leave the session without kissing each other.[5] Because he is called here "a true Alexandrian," it is assumed that he was a native of Alexandria.

Once, he once exposed himself to great danger to obtain an authoritative halachic decision. During the Hadrianic persecutions, when many rabbis had been put to death for teaching Judaism, [Rabbi Akiva](/source/Rabbi_Akiva) was imprisoned and awaiting his doom at the command of [Rufus](/source/Quintus_Tineius_Rufus_(consul_127)). A marital question agitated the rabbis, and Johanan undertook to procure the closely guarded Akiva's advice upon it. Disguised as a peddler, he offered some goods for sale near the prison: "Who wants needles? Who wants hooks? How about private [halitzah](/source/Halitzah)?" Akiba, looking out through an aperture, said in reply, "Do you have spindles? Do you have *kasher* (= "valid")?"[6]

At one time during the persecutions, Johanan and [Eleazar ben Shammua](/source/Eleazar_ben_Shammua) left Palestine, intending to betake themselves to [Judah ben Bathyra](/source/Judah_ben_Bathyra) in [Nisibis](/source/Nisibis); but they did not carry out their intention. By the time they arrived at [Sidon](/source/Sidon) they felt too homesick to proceed any farther, and returned.[7]

He died on the 29th day of the Hebrew month of [Tammuz](/source/Tammuz_(Hebrew_month)) (the same [yahrzeit](/source/Bereavement_in_Judaism) as that of Rashi), and was buried 200 meters from the tomb of [Shimon bar Yochai](/source/Shimon_bar_Yochai) in [Meron](/source/Meron,_Israel), now located in [Israel](/source/Israel).

## Teachings

His halachic teachings are sometimes cited in the Mishnah,[8] and [Simeon ben Gamaliel II](/source/Simeon_ben_Gamaliel_II) reports two halakhot from him.[9]

### Quotes

- "Every assembly that is for the sake of Heaven will survive; but if it is not for the sake of Heaven, it will not survive."[10]

## References

1. [Rabbi Yehiel Ben Shlomo Heilprin - Later Achronim](http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=112344)

1. Adin Steinsaltz (23 November 1993). [*The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition : Tractate Ketubot*](https://books.google.com/books?id=UwomAQAAIAAJ). Random House. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-679-42694-3. Retrieved 14 September 2011.

1. Israel Burgansky and Stephen G. Wald (2007). ["Simeon Bar Yoḥai"](https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/simeon-bar-yohai) entry in *[Encyclopaedia Judaica](/source/Encyclopaedia_Judaica)*, 2nd edition,

1. [Genesis Rabbah](/source/Genesis_Rabbah) 61:3; [Ecclesiastes Rabbah](/source/Ecclesiastes_Rabbah) 11:6; compare Yevamot 62b

1. Yerushalmi Hagigah 3 78d; see Rapoport, "'Erek Millin," p. 102a

1. Yerushalmi Yevamot 12 12d

1. [Sifre](/source/Sifre) Deuteronomy 80

1. Yevamot 12:5; Ketuvot 5:4; Kelim 5:5

1. Tosefta Kelim Kamma 4:2,5

1. [Pirkei Avot](/source/Pirkei_Avot) 4:14; compare [Avot of Rabbi Natan](/source/Avot_of_Rabbi_Natan) 40 [ed. Schechter, pp. 64b, 65a]

It has the following bibliography:

- Bacher, Ag. Tan. ii. 265;
- Brüll, Mebo ha-Mishnah, i. 198;
- Frankel, Darke ha-Mishnah, p. 175;
- Grätz, Gesch. 2d ed., iv. 177, 186;
- Weiss, Dor, ii. 166;
- Zacuto, Yuḥasin, p. 47a.

## External links

- [Photo of Rabbi Yochanan's grave in Meron](http://www.breslev-midot.com/eng/photo_album05.asp)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Johanan HaSandlar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johanan_HaSandlar) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johanan_HaSandlar?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.