Rabbi Yannai

Fourth Generation of Tannaim. Rabbi and Rabbi Hiyya the Great were his teachers. He was the prominent teacher of Rabbi Yochanan; Rav was greater than him because he was part of Rabbi’s court.

His Humility

Rabbi Yannai had a worker who would bring a basket of fruit to his house every Friday evening.

One time, the worker was delayed and did not arrive! Rabbi Yannai took some of the fruits he had at home and tithed them for the fruits the worker had not yet brought.

Rabbi Yannai came before Rabbi Hiyya and asked him: Did I do correctly? He replied: You did well, because it is written: “that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always,” [דברים יד,כג] these are Sabbaths and holidays.

This came to teach us that, in such a case, it is permissible to tithe on something that has not yet come into existence but is destined to come, for the sake of Shabbat enjoyment, so that Shabbat enjoyment is not canceled because of the correction of tevel, meaning: because of untithed fruits.

Rabbi Yannai said to him: I dreamt on Shabbat night, a verse about a “bruised reed,” as if I relied on my own opinion and it was not correct to do so!

Rabbi Hiyya the Great said to him, the verse did not mean that, but rather this: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully bring forth justice,” [ישעיה מב,ג] meaning: You brought forth true justice with your action, therefore, you did well. [יבמות צג:]

His Sayings

Rabbi Yannai said: From the beginning of the creation of the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, foresaw the deeds of the righteous and the wicked. These are their deeds – “These are the deeds of the wicked. “And God said, ‘Let there be light’ – which refers to the deeds of the righteous.”

His intention: Among the deeds of the righteous – “It is further stated: “And God divided between the light and between the darkness” referring to the deeds of the wicked.”

These – “These are the deeds of the righteous. “And to the darkness He called Night” – it is further stated: “And God called the light Day,” referring to the deeds of the wicked.”

“These are the deeds of the righteous –” “These are the deeds of the wicked. “And there was morning” – and it concludes with the verse: “And there was evening.” That the Holy One, blessed be He, granted one day, and what is this day? Yom Kippur, His intention: It is the day of repentance – “one day on which everyone ascends to the level of repentance and becomes righteous.” [מדרש רבה, בראשית ג,ח]