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Bible Encyclopedias
Benjamin B. Japhet
The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia
A Palestinian scholar of the third amoraic generation (third century), disciple of R. Johanan and senior to R. Zeïra I. (Ber. 33a, 38b; Ket. 77a). He cultivated both the Halakah and the Haggadah; in his halakic deliverances, however, he was not considered very reliable. Thus when, on one occasion, Ḥiyya b. Abba and he differed on a traditional decision by their master, R. Zeïra remarked, "What does R. Benjamin b. Japhet amount to compared with R. Ḥiyya b. Abba?" (Ber. 38b; Yer. Ber. 6:10a; Yer. Pes. 2:29c). Nevertheless, this same R. Zeïra had occasion to thank Benjamin for communicating to him a Halakah in the name of R. Johanan (Shab. 53a). In the Haggadah, Benjamin was a follower of R. Eleazar b. Pedat, whose expositions and sayings he frequently reports (Meg. 16b; Sanh. 7a; compare Ex. R.; Lev. R. ).—[Yer. Ber. 3:6d; Yoma 29a; Yer. Sanh. 1:18a; Shebu. 18b; Ḥul. 52b (correctly quoted in MS. M); Pesiḳ. 7:63b, 8:68b; Pesiḳ. R.; Midr. Teh.; Gen. R.; Tan., ed. Buber, Lek Leka, 11.]
- Frankel, Mebo, p. 69a;
- Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ed. Wilna, 2:85;
- Luncz, Jerusalem, 1:101, in which Benjamin's grave is said to be at Safed.
These files are public domain.
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Benjamin B. Japhet'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tje/​b/benjamin-b-japhet.html. 1901.