The Ten Martyrs: These I remember

Reproduced from “A Sacred Trust: Stories of Our Heritage and History” by Rabbi Eugene and Dr. Annette Labovitz [Ed. The Roman Emperor Hadrian was determined to rebuild Yerushalayim, not as a city holy to the Jewish people, but rather as a pagan city named Aeolina Capitalina. He re-issued the harsh decrees that Antiochus, the Syrian/Greek had imposed approximately two hundred years before, hoping to extinguish both the Jewish religion and the yearning of the Jewish people for independence from the oppressive Roman yoke. The old decrees prohibited the study of Torah, kashrut, [Kosher laws] circumcision, the observance of the Sabbath, and the celebration of Rosh Chodesh (the new moon, which regulated the celebration of the holidays), and he added the prohibition to ordain rabbis. Ignoring Roman law was punishable by death; and many Jews willingly sacrificed their lives, for they believed that if they could not live as Jews, their lives were not worth living. ] [Ed. The liturgical poem about the Asarah Harugay Malchut, (ten illustrious sages who died to sanctify G-d’s Holy Name) is read twice each year, and can be found in the Machzor [prayer book] of Yom Kippur, with the words beginning Ayleh Ezkerah, and in the Kinnot of Tisha B’Av beginning with the words Arzay Halevanon. The poem describes the martyrdom of ten sages who lived under Roman oppression from the period of the destruction of the second Holy Temple in 70 C.E. until the fall of Betar 65 years later even though it seems from the poetry that all the sages were murdered at one time.]

Emperor Hadrian (or, according to Midrashic sources, a Roman governor), called together a council of the ten leading Jewish sages. He was looking for a pretext to murder them. The sages did not know Hadrian’s evil intention. I want you to try a case for me, he commanded. According to your Torah, what is the punishment for kidnapping? Our Torah teaches, they said in unison, he who kidnaps a person and holds him for ransom shall surely be put to death. If that is the law, he thundered, I decree that all of you be put to death. According to my recollection, no Jew has ever been punished for the brothers selling Joseph into slavery. Therefore, I sentence you to death for that crime, as is commanded by your Torah.

Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha Kohen Gadol and Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel:

The Roman emperor insisted that lots be cast to decide who should be brutally tortured and murdered first, Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha Kohen Gadol or Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. The lot fell on Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. The Roman ordered that he be immediately decapitated. Rabbi Yishmael picked up the severed head of his friend and colleague and bitterly cried out: Is this the reward for the one whose tongue so skillfully transmitted the beautiful words of Torah, and now it licks the dust? The emperor’s daughter watched the execution. She asked her father to spare Rabbi Yishmael, for he was an exceedingly handsome man. Lift your face that I might look at it, she called out, and I will spare your life.

No, he replied, I will not forfeit my reward in the world to come for any pleasure that you might have from gazing at me. Incensed with his refusal, she commanded the executioner to tear the skin from his face while he was still alive.

Rabbi Akiva:

Rabbi Akiva was condemned for teaching Torah and for treason, because he was one of the leaders guiding the Jewish uprising against tyrannical Roman rule. His sentence was carried out in Caesarea. The morning of his execution, he rose early, so that he might say Sh’ma one last time. As the Roman executioners flayed his flesh with iron combs, he continued his recitation, Sh’ma Yisrael… Hear O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One. His students asked him, Master and teacher, how is it possible for you to stand the pain and yet have a smile upon your face? All my life, he replied, I have sought to understand the meaning of ‘and you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.’ I have interpreted ‘with all your soul’ to mean even if He takes your soul. I always wondered when I would have the opportunity to fulfill this commandment. Now, I am able to do it. Shall I not fulfill it with joy? He prolonged the word E-chad (One), until the sound was no longer audible. Rabbi Akiva’s students carried his body across the Galilee and buried him on one of the highest hills in Tiberias overlooking the Kinneret Sea. (Sea of Galilee)

Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon:

Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon was studying Torah publicly with many disciples. The Roman bailiffs arrested him, for the study of Torah was prohibited. They wrapped him in the Torah scroll that he had been studying, placed bundles of branches around him, and set them on fire. The bailiff inserted wet woolen sponges over his heart, so that he would suffer longer. As the flames crept upward, his wife and daughter Beruriah wept. Why are you weeping, he asked Beruriah? She replied, because I have to watch you suffer. His disciples asked, What do you see? He responded, I see the parchment consumed with the flames, but the letters of the Torah are returning to their source in Heaven.

Rabbi Chutzpit Hameturageman:

Rabbi Chutzpit Hameturageman used to translate and interpret the lecture of the head of the yeshiva. His students pleaded with the Roman emperor to have mercy on him when he was sentenced to death. He inquired, How old are you? Why do you want to live longer? I am one hundred and thirty years old, the sage responded, and I want to live one more day so that I might recite Sh’ma Yisrael one more evening and one more morning in order to declare that G-d is my King. Hah! laughed the emperor. How long will the Jewish people cling to a G-d that does not help them? If your G-d is omniscient and omnipresent, why doesn’t He save you from my death decree? Rabbi Chutzpit rent his garment and cried in anguish: You blaspheme the L-rd! What will you do when He punishes you and your mighty empire? As punishment for your audacity, you shall be slain, stoned and hanged! roared the emperor.

Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua:

Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua was one of Rabbi Akiva’s primary students. He was murdered on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. He was a humble and gentle man who never quarreled with his colleagues even though they sometimes disagreed with his opinions. He never occupied himself with useless matters. His students pleaded with him to reveal what he saw as his life’s breath was being squeezed from him:

I see, he whispered, the soul of every righteous man being purified in the waters of the Shiloah pools, preparing them to enter the gates of Heaven. There Rabbi Akiva is already sitting upon a golden throne, teaching Torah to those who enter.

Rabbi Chanina ben Chachinai:

Rabbi Chanina ben Chachinai was taken to the place of execution on Friday afternoon just as he finished his preparations for Shabbat. He wanted to usher in Shabbat with prayer and song, just as he had done every week of his life, so he began chanting: L’chu N’ranenah, (Come, let us praise!) The executioner was enchanted with his intense devotion and the rhythm of the melody, so he waited. He waited and waited, and then decided he could not wait anymore. As Rabbi Chanina chanted the words of the kiddush: And G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it . . . he acted. Rabbi Chanina never finished the remainder of the verse: for on that day, G-d rested from all His work which He had created.

Rabbi Yeshayvav, the Scribe:

Rabbi Yeshayvav, the Scribe, a colleague of Rabbi Akiva, was so generous that he had to restrain him from giving too much charity. Being shoved toward the place of execution when he was arrested on a Monday, the day of the week on which he usually fasted, he implored his students to follow so that he might instruct them in one last lesson:

Remain loving and devoted to one another, he urged. Love peace and justice, and pray for the redemption of the Jewish people from this oppressive enemy. As he was being torn to death by wild dogs, a voice called out: Blessed be Rabbi Yeshayvav the Scribe who never for an instant deviated from the law of Moses.

Rabbi Yehuda ben Dama:

Rabbi Yehuda ben Dama was arrested the day before Sukkot. He pleaded with the emperor to allow him to live one more day so that he might be privileged to perform the mitzvah of sitting in the sukkah and blessing the etrog and lulav (citron and palm branch.) What reward will you receive for your insistence in observing these commandments? the emperor mocked. Rabbi Yehudah replied quietly, Oh, how abundant is Your goodness which You have stored for them that fear You. The emperor raged, you are a fool if you believe in life after death, in some sort of eternal reward. There are no fools greater than those who deny a living G-d, argued Rabbi Yehuda. Incensed, the emperor ordered that Rabbi Yehuda be tied by his hair to a horse’s tail and dragged through the streets.

Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava:

Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava courageously defied the Romans by teaching Torah publicly. He understood that if the Romans succeeded in carrying out their edict prohibiting the study of Torah and the ordination of Rabbis, the Jewish people would not survive. The Roman edict stated that whoever ordained a Rabbi would be punished by death, whoever was ordained would be put to death, and the city where the ordination was performed would be razed. The aging, seventy-year-old Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava took five of the most promising young leaders to the uninhabited valley between the Galilean cities of Usha and Shefaram. He did not want innocent people to suffer what he was about to do. In the secluded valley he ordained Rabbi Mayer, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua. He placed upon their shoulders the responsibility for the continuation of Jewish life. A Roman patrol, roaming through the surrounding hills, saw them in the valley and turned to investigate. Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava noticed the soldiers closing in and pleaded, Run for your lives! But, what will become of you? they implored. We cannot leave you here. I have lived my life fully, he said. I will slow down your chance to escape if you wait for me. You must live and teach because I will die soon anyway. The Roman soldiers caught and tortured Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava to death by piercing his body with three hundred iron spearheads. The five young Rabbis escaped and became the leading sages of the next

generation.

The Ten Martyrs

Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha, Kohen Gadol

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel

Rabbi Akiva

Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon

Rabbi Chutzpit Hameturageman

Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua

Rabbi Chanina ben Chachinai

Rabbi Yeshayvav, the Scribe

Rabbi Yehuda ben Dama

Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava