Hanina ben Hakinai or Hanania ben Hakinai (Hebrew: חנינא בן חכינאי) was a Tanna of the 2nd century; contemporary of Ben 'Azzai and Simeon the Yemenite.Tosefta, Berachot 4:18; see Ḥalafta Sometimes he is cited as "ben Hakinai".Sifra, Emor, 7:11; Shab. 147b
Life The identities of his early teachers are not known. From some versions of the Toseftal.c. it appears that Tarfon was one of them, but that his regular teacher was Rabbi Akiva. It is related that he took leave of his wife and attended Akiva 12 or 13 years without communicating with his family, whom he recovered in a remarkable way.Ket. 62b; Lev. R. 21:8 He was one of the few who, though not regularly ordained, were permitted to "argue cases before the sages".דנין לפני חכמים: Sanh. 17b; compare Yer. Ma'as. Sh. ii. 53d
From a comparatively late date comes the statement that Hananiah b. Ḥakinai was one of the Ten Martyrs.See Zunz, G. V. 2d ed., p. 150; see also Masseket Aẓilut
Teachings Several halakhot have been preserved in his name, owing their preservation to Eleazar b. Jacob II.Kil. 4:8; Mak. 3:9; Tosef., Ṭoharot 6:3; Ḳid. 55b He also left some halakic midrashim.Sifra, Meẓora', 5:16; Sifra, Emor, 7:11, compare Shab. 110b; Men. 62b, compare Sifra, Emor, 13:8
Hananiah delved into the "mysteries of the Creation," concerning which he consulted R. Akiva.Hagiga 14b
According to him, God's relation to distressed Israel is expressed in Solomon's words: "A brother is born for adversity";Prov. 17:17 by "brother" is understood "Israel," for it is elsewhere said:Ps. 122:8 "For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee".Yalḳ., Ex. 233; compare Mek., Beshallaḥ, 3
With reference to Leviticus 5:21 ("If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbor," etc.), he remarks, "No man lies [acts dishonestly] against his fellow man unless he first becomes faithless to God".Tosef., Shebuot 3:6
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography W. Bacher, Ag. Tan. i. 436; Brüll, Mebo ha-Mishnah, i. 148; Z. Frankel, Darke ha-Mishnah, p. 136; Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ii.; Zacuto, Yuḥasin, ed. Filipowski, pp. 36a, 65b
References
External links Jewish Encyclopedia article for Hanina ben Hakinai