Judah II

Judah II or Nesi'ah I was a Jewish sage who lived in Tiberias in the Land of Israel, in the middle of the third century CE.

As youths, Judah and Hillel visited Cabul and Biri, each time behaving in ways which offended the local population.

[2] Together with Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, he assisted at Laodicea in the reception of a female proselyte into Judaism.

[6] Yochanan also induced Judah to visit Shimon ben Lakish, who had fled from Tiberias in consequence of having made offensive remarks in regard to the dignity of the patriarchate, and invite him to return.

[7] On another occasion, it was Shimon ben Lakish who succeeded in softening Judah's indignation toward a daring preacher, Jose of Maon, who had denounced the rapacity of the patriarchal house.

[10] Judah's authority as patriarch was not absolute: he could not carry out his intention of omitting the fast-day of Tisha B'Av when it fell on the Sabbath.

[18] Grätz identifies Judah's brother Hillel, with the "patriarch Joullos" ('Ιοῦλλος πατριάρχης), with whom Origen conversed at Caesarea on Biblical subjects.

[22] This ordinance, which abrogated an old law, was recognized as authoritative in Babylonia by Samuel, and subsequently by Rav, who at first hesitated to accept it.

[23] Simlai, the famous aggadist, tried to induce Judah to abrogate also the prohibition against using bread prepared by pagans.