Rav Zeira - Social Condition and Family Life

Social Condition and Family Life

With regard to Ze'era's private vocation, the only facts known are that he once traded in linen, and that he asked Abbahu how far he might go in improving the outward appearance of his goods without rendering himself liable in the slightest degree to a charge of fraud (Yer. B. M. 9d). Information regarding his family relations is also very scanty; it is asserted that he became an orphan at an early age (Yer. Pe'ah 15c), and that his wedding was celebrated during the Feast of Tabernacles (Suk. 25b), and he had one son, Ahabah or Ahava, who has become well known through various haggadic maxims (comp. Bacher, l.c. iii. 651-659). He was known for his longevity.

Ze'era occupies a prominent place in the Halakah as well as in the Aggadah; with regard to the former he is especially distinguished for the correctness and knowledge with which he transmits older maxims. Among his haggadic sayings the following may be mentioned as throwing light upon his high moral standpoint:

He who has never sinned is worthy of reward only if he has withstood temptation to do so. (Yer. Ḳid. 61d)

One should never promise a child anything which one does not intend to give it, because this would accustom the child to untruthfulness. (Suk. 46b)

On account of his lofty morals and piety Ze'era was honored with the name "the pious Babylonian." Among his neighbors were several people known for their wickedness, but Ze'era treated them with kindness in order to lead them to moral reformation. When he died, these people said, "Hitherto Ze'era has prayed for us, but who will pray for us now?" This reflection so moved their hearts that they really were led to do penance (Sanh. 37a). That Ze'era enjoyed the respect of his contemporaries is evidenced by the comment upon his death written by an elegist: "Babylonia gave him birth; Palestine had the pleasure of rearing him; 'Wo is me,' says Tiberias, for she has lost her precious jewel" (M. Ḳ. 75b).