Phinehas ben Jair

Pinchas ben Yair ( Phinehas b. Yair ) was for its exceptional piety famous Jewish scholar of antiquity, of which some miracles are reported ( Legend of the pious donkey, etc.). He appeared in the second half of the second century AD and belonged to the so-called fourth generation of the Tannaim.

He was son of Shimon ben Yohai and probably lived at Lydda.

His Halachot have not been preserved in the Mishnah, he is mentioned only once. It is reported that he scrupulously to respect the purity laws and so, for example, never spoke a blessing over someone else's bread and with the entry into adulthood no longer partook of the meal his father ( Babyl. Hullin 7b ). Great importance was also the observance of the Shmitah -year for him.

He is known as author of the Midrash Tadsche ( = Baraita of Pinchas ben Yair ).