Who was Rabbi Meir Baal Haness?
Rabbi Meir Baal Haness (139-163) lived in the times of the Mishna and was a highly respected fourth generation Tanna (Talmudic scholar) and a leading student of Rabbi Akiva. Interestingly, he was not a scion of Jewish aristocracy, as you might expect. He was actually descended from the Roman General Nero, who reportedly converted after a battle with the Jews. His brilliant wife, Bruriah, was the daughter of Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon, and is one of the few women cited in the Mishna. Rabbi Meir received his smicha (rabbinical ordination) secretly from Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava, during the peak of Roman persecution. He, together with four others, were entrusted with the vital mission to keep Torah study alive despite the Roman prohibition against it. Rabbi Meir’s name features prominently in the Mishna; he is the third most oft-quoted Tanna. Additionally, any reference in the Mishna where the name of the speaker isn’t noted is attributed to Rabbi Meir by default. Possessed with a pow...