Yehoshua b. Gamla

Yehoshua b. Gamla was an influential member of the Sanhedrin during the time immediately before the Temple's destruction. He was most famous for his ordinance that all communities hire teachers to instruct children. Yet he was also accused of having bought the office of the high priest.

Sources

MISHNA: If a priest betrothed a widow and was subsequently appointed to be High Priest, he may marry her. And there was an incident with Yehoshua ben Gamla, who betrothed Marta bat Baitos, a widow, and the king subsequently appointed him to be High Priest, and he nevertheless married her. Conversely, in the case of a widow waiting for her yavam who happened before a common priest, i.e., the priest was her yavam, and he was subsequently appointed to be High Priest…

Yevamot 61a:6-8

What was this ordinance? As Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Truly, that man is remembered for the good, and his name is Yehoshua ben Gamla. If not for him the Torah would have been forgotten from the Jewish people. Initially, whoever had a father would have his father teach him Torah, and whoever did not have a father would not learn Torah at all. The Gemara explains: What verse did they interpret homiletically that allowed them to conduct themselves in this manner? They interpreted the verse that states: “And you shall teach them…

Bava Batra 21a:2-4

Mention should also be made of Joshua ben Gamala who was elected High Priest several years before the destruction of the temple. This office he obtained through bribe in spite of the fact that he was not even descended from priests and that he married a widow. Martha, the daughter of Boetus, married Joshua and in order to obtain the office of High Priest for him she sent a bag full of gold to king Agrippa the second. During the last rebellion Joshua ben Gamala opposed the patriots and was against the war with Rome…

The Jewish Spiritual Heroes, Volume I; The Creators of the Mishna, Rabbi Chanina, Deputy of the High Priest, and His Contemporaries 21-24

Relatedראו גם

Education

Sheetsדפי מקורות

Related Sheets

Global Virtual Shavuot Event: Sinai in the Cloud

Join us for a free, interactive learning event on Sunday, May 25 at 9:00 AM PT | 12:00 PM ET | 7:00 PM IT. Explore Jewish texts through breakout sessions led by inspiring facilitators on topics like food, music, tech, poetry, and art.

RSVP