Sumchus

Third generation of Tannaim.

Sumchus ben Yosef was a prominent disciple of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNes and a colleague of Rabbi Judah haNasi.

His Wisdom

Rabbi Abahu said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: Rabbi Meir had a disciple named Sumchus, who would offer forty-eight reasons for ritual impurity for every item, and forty-eight reasons for ritual purity for every item.

We have learned: There was a very sharp student in Yavneh, who, had it not been explicitly written in the Torah that a creeping thing is impure, would have declared it pure with one hundred and fifty reasons; therefore, the Torah needed to write that a creeping thing is impure. [עירובין יג:] The Sages said: After the passing of Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehudah bar Ilai said to his disciples: Let not the disciples of Rabbi Meir enter here, because they come to provoke and not to learn Torah, and they wish to cut off our legs (undermine our authority) in halakha to show that they are sharp and none can stand against them!

Nevertheless, Sumchus, one of Rabbi Meir's disciples, pushed his way in and entered Rabbi Yehudah's study hall, and he taught halakhot in the name of his master. Rabbi Yehudah became angry at his disciples for allowing him to enter. [קידושין נב:]

His Sayings

Our Rabbis taught: Rabbi Meir said, regarding the verse: "Hear, O Israel" [Deuteronomy 6:4], one must have intention of the heart.

Rava said the halakha is according to Rabbi Meir.

We have learned: Sumchus ben Yosef says, whoever prolongs the word "Echad" (one), his days and years are prolonged.

Rav Acha bar Yaakov said: Prolong the Dalet. Rabbi Ashi said: Provided that he does not rush the letter Chet and emphasize the prolongation in the Dalet. [ילקוט שמעוני ואתחנן פ"ו – ברכות יג:]