Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Hillel the Elder

688774Collier's New Encyclopedia — Hillel the Elder

HILLEL THE ELDER, surnamed Hassaken, a Jewish rabbi; born in Babylonia. He lived in the century preceding the Christian era. At the age of 40 he removed to Jerusalem, where he studied the law with such diligence as to become master of the chief school of that city. He formed a new digest of the traditionary law, from which the “Mishna,” or earliest part of the Talmud, is derived. He lived to the great age of 120 years.