14/01/2022
A walled compound with a large and ancient Tabor oak tree―said to be the oldest in Israel―at the road junction by Kfar Hananya contains the Tziyunim (tomb markers) of Rabbi Chalafta and his son Rabbi Yossi. The tree is mentioned in the diaries of visitors to the tombs, going back centuries, including the Sefer Masa'ot (book of travels) of Rabbi Moshe ben Mordechai Bassola of Pesaro, Italy, of 1521, which describes his visit to the tombs.
Rabbi Chalafta was a third generation Tanna (the rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 10–220 CE), who served as the spiritual leader of Tzipori (Sepphoris). According to a genealogical chart found at Jerusalem, he was a descendant of Yehonadav ben Rechev, who is mentioned in the second book of Kings, and was born before the destruction of the Second Temple. He was a senior contemporary of Rabbi Gamaliel II and Rabbi Yochanan ben Nuri, and headed a Yeshiva at Tszpori.
Rabbi Chalafta's teachings are quoted a number of times by his son Rabbi Yossi who refers to him as 'Abba Chalafta'. His friends were Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria, Rabbi Yochanan ben Nuri and Rabbi Chanina ben Tardyon. Rabbi Chalafta attained an advanced age; he communicated to Rabbi Gamaliel II an order given by his grandfather, Rabbi Gamaliel I, which he had himself heard in the last years of Judea's independence.
Rebbe Chalafta was one of the Sages who had to deal with the situation created by the destruction of the Second Temple and fit Halacha (the law) and customs to the new circumstances. Once during on a fast day decreed in Tzipori by Rabbi Chalafta and Rabbi Chanina ben Tardyon, instead of answering Amen following the blessings they continued to answer Baruch Shem Kivod etc. as was customary in the Temple. Although during the rest of the year the congregation would answer Amen, they felt that in the extended fast day services they should continue with tradition as done in the Temple. When the other Sages heard this, they issued a protest on this ruling saying this was only acceptable in prayers taking place by the Eastern gate of Temple Mount where they would pronounce the actual Tetragrammaton (name of G-d).
Rabbi Yossi ben Chalafta is one of the most-mentioned Sages in the Mishna, where he is simply referred to as Rabbi Yossi (or Yose). A leading student of Rabbi Akiva―he was one of his five principal pupils, called “the restorers of the Law”―Rabbi Yosi was friends with Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Meir. His rulings are mentioned throughout the Mishnah, the Baraita (a tradition in the Jewish oral law not incorporated in the Mishnah) and Sifra (the Halakhic midrash to the Book of Leviticus). The Talmud mentions in several places that in a dispute between Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai―as also between Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Yehuda ben 'Ilai or Rabbi Meir―the Halacha follows Rabbi Yossi.
Rabbi Yossi was also a student of Yochanan ben Nuri, whose Halachot he transmitted. Although his principal teacher was Akiva, whose system he followed in his interpretation of the Torah, it is very likely that he studied much under his father, Chalafta, whose authority he often invokes. His teaching was very systematic and avoided controversy―he declared that the antagonism between the schools of Shammai and Hillel made it seem as though there were two Torahs―mainly seeking compromise. He was generally liberal in his Halachic decisions, especially in the laws concerning fasts and vows.
After receiving Semicha (ordination)―an offense carrying capital punishment by the Roman government―from Rabbi Yehudah ben Bava, Rebbe Yossi fled to Asia, remaining there until the death of Hadrian. Later he settled at Usha, then the seat of the Sanhedrin. Once, when his fellow pupil Simeon bar Yochai, attacked the Roman government in his presence, he remained silent and did not defend the government. He was thus forced by the Romans to return to his home town of Tzipori, which he found in decline. He established there a flourishing school. In Tzipori Rabbi Yossi served as the leader of the community, as his father had, and established a large Yeshiva. Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi was one of his students; Jose's great learning attracted so many pupils that the words “that which is altogether just shalt thou follow” (Deuteronomy 16:20) were interpreted to mean in part “follow Yossi to Tzipori.” He is believed to have died there. He was highly extolled after his death. His pupil Judah ha-Nasi said: “The difference between Yossi’s generation and ours is like the difference between the Holy of Holies and the most profane.” Rabbi Yossi married the childless wife of his dead brother―in accordance with Torah law―who bore him five sons: Ishmael, Eleazar, Menachem, Chalafta (who died in his lifetime), and Eudemus. Rabbi Yossi worked as a tanner, a low trade, to support his family.
A story is told that his entire life Rabbi Yossi failed to understand the verse “and you will stumble in the afternoon like a blind man stumbles in the darkness” for what difference does it make for a blind man whether it is light or dark, regardless he cannot see. Until one day Rabbi Yossi chanced upon a blind man holding a torch. To Rabbi Yossi’s request of what good the torch did for him, the blind man replied that, as long as he held the torch, others were able to see him and assist him from pits and thorns.
A Hillulah (celebration of the life of a great tzaddik on the anniversary of his death) for Rabbi Chalafta & Rabbi Yossi is celebrated on 15 Tammuz.
A mistaken tradition also places the tomb of Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta―whom some say was Rabbi Chalafta’s son, born to him in his very old age, whilst others say he was a great grandson, the son of Rabbi Chalafta, the second son of Rabbi Yossi―in this courtyard. This arises from the fact that there are two Kevarim (tombs) inside the Tziyun (tomb marker) of Rabbi Yossi’s tomb, and the one to his left was assumed to be Rabbi Shimon’s. However Arizal explicitly stated that Rabbi Shimon was buried in the cemetery in Tzefat, so the grave must be another brother, son or student of Rabbi Yossi. Abba Chalafta’s tomb is marked “Rabbi Chalafta & his sons, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Shimon.”