Rabbi Eliezer (Eliezer ben Hurcanus)

Quotes by Rabbi Eliezer (Eliezer ben Hurcanus), one of the most prominent tannaim of the 1st and 2nd centuries, disciple of Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkaiand colleague of Gamaliel II (whose sister he married) and of Joshua ben Hananiah. He became known as "Eliezer ha-Gadol" ("the Great").

• AS THIS DAY - JUST AS THE DAY DARKENS AND THEN BECOMES LIGHT AGAIN, SO THE TEN TRIBES - EVEN AS IT WENT DARK FOR THEM, SO WILL IT BECOME LIGHT FOR THEM. - B.T. (Mishnah) Sanhedrin 110b

• Let the honor of thy colleague (variant, "pupils") be as dear to thee as thine own, and be not easily moved to anger. Repent one day before thy death. Warm thyself by the fire of the wise men, but be cautious of their burning coals ("slight them not"), that thou be not burned; for their bite is the bite of a jackal, their sting is that of a scorpion, their hissing is that of a snake, and all their words are fiery coals.

When asked how a person can determine the one day before his death, Eliezer answered:

• So much the more must one repent daily, lest he die tomorrow; and it follows that he must spend all his days in piety. - Shabbat 153a

• Keep away from what is indecent and from that which appears to be indecent. - Hullin (Tosefta) 2:24

• Instructing a woman in the Law is like teaching her blasphemy. - Sotah 3:4

• Let the Law be burned rather than entrusted to a woman. - Sotah 3:4

• A woman's wisdom is limited to the handling of the distaff. - Yoma 66b

Eliezer's comments regarding women being instructed in Torah actually contradict what the WRITTEN TORAH says and the example of Yeshua (Jesus) teaching all, men and women alike, the TORAH and principles from the TORAH.

If you know of any other significant quotes by this person, please email me with the quote and source information if possible.

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