Hillel the Elder

Nasi of the Sanhedrin Hillel the Elder was one of the greatest Jewish sages of the late Second Temple period, usually placed around the 1st century before the common count or the 1st century. He came from Babylonia to the Land of Israel and became the head of the Sanhedrin according to rabbinic tradition. Hillel is remembered for his humility, patience, and deep knowledge of Torah. He founded the House of Hillel, a major school of Jewish law that often took a more lenient or flexible approach than the House of Shammai.

From a Jewish perspective, Hillel is important because he helped shape rabbinic Judaism before the destruction of the Second Temple. He is famous for teachings like, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow,” and for emphasizing kindness, humility, and Torah study. His descendants became connected with the leadership title Nasi, and his legal traditions strongly influenced later Mishnah and Talmudic Judaism.