Nehemiah

Tanna of the fourth generation. Nehemiah was one the seven disciples of R. Akiva said to have saved the Torah from oblivion during the Hadrianic persecutions following the suppression of the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132-135 CE. He was surrepititiously ordained by Judah Ben Bava and with Juda Ha-Nasi, Meir, Yosé Ben ḥalafta, Simeon Bar Yoḥai, Johanan Ha-Sandelar and Eliezer ben Yosé ha-Gelili is credited with "filling the land with learning" (Eccl. R. 10:11). He is cited as the author of all the anonymous statements in the Tosefta (Sanh. 86a), reflecting the teachings of R. Akiva, and was a student of Merkabah Mysticism He earned his living as a potter but was quite poor. He is quoted as saying. "A single individual is worth all of Creation, for it is written: 'This is the book of the generations of man [Adam]' (Gen. 5:1) (ARN 31).

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