Me'asha

Rabbinical Eras
Chazal Zugot Tannaim Amoraim Savoraim Geonim Rishonim Acharonim

Me'asha was the name of three important rabbis of the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods.

1. Me'asha was a tanna to whom one reference occurs in the Mishna (Peah ii. 6), from which it appears that he lived in the time of Hillel's descendants (comp. Heilprin, "Seder ha-Dorot," ii.).
2. Me'asha ben Joseph (?) was an aggadist and mystic; grandson and pupil of Joshua ben Levi (Yer. Ber. ii. 3; Yer. Beẓah i. 6 et al.). From the few details concerning him it appears that on Shabbat he used to have himself carried to the synagogue in order to preach (Yer. Beẓah l.c.), that he was not rich, and that he died suddenly in the time of Ammi (Ket. 85b). Me'asha is particularly noted for the vision which he is reported to have seen during a trance lasting three days, and concerning which he said: "I have been in a world of confusion where people who are honored here are held in contempt" (Ruth Rabbah iii. 1). In Pesach 50a this vision is ascribed to Joseph ben Joshua ben Levi; Joseph was probably Me'asha's father. Me'asha inferred from Isaiah xxxiii. 15-17 that when one shuts his eyes to things indecent he is worthy to view the face of the Shekhinah (Pesiḳ. R. 24 [ed. Friedmann, p. 125a]; Derek Ereẓ i.; Lev. R. xxiii. 13).
3. Me'asha was also the name of an amora in the Land of Israel of the fourth century CE; mentioned as a companion of Samuel ben Isaac and Zera (Yer. Ber. ii. 9 et al.). His halakhic and aggadic sentences are met with in both Talmudim.

References

• This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication now in the public domain.

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