HILLEL (c. 7o B.C.—C. A.D. I0), Jewish rabbi, was of Baby lonian origin and descended from the family of David. When about 40, he went to study in the schools of Shemaiah and Abtalion at Jerusalem. There he became numbered among the leaders of the Pharisaic scribes, and tradition assigns him the highest dignity of the Sanhedrin, under the title of nasi ("prince") about 3o B.C. Hillel is said to have laid down seven rules for the interpretation of the Scriptures, which became the foundation of rabbinical hermeneutics. He founded a more lenient school in opposition to that of his colleague Shammai, and introduced the well known institution of the Prosbol (irpoo/3oXri ), which was intended to avert the evil consequences of the scriptural law of release in the seventh year (Deut. xv. I).
Hillel lived in the memory of posterity as the great teacher who enjoined and practised the virtues of charity, humility, patience and true piety.
Of the sayings ascribed to him, many of which bear a remark able resemblance to the teaching of Christ, the following are typical—"My abasement is my exaltation"; "What is unpleas ant to thyself that do not to thy neighbour; this is the whole Law, all else is but its exposition"; "If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am for myself alone, what then am I' And if not now, then when?" "Separate not thyself from the congregation"; "Judge not thy neighbour until thou art in his place" ; "He who wishes to make a name for himself loses his name ; he who does not increase [his knowledge] decreases it ; he who does not learn is worthy of death; he who works for the sake of a crown is lost" ; "He who has acquired the words of doctrine has acquired the life of the world to come." It is noteworthy that no miraculous legends are connected with Hillel's life. A scholastic tradition, however, tells of a voice from heaven which made itself heard when the wise men had assembled in Jericho, saying: "Among those here present is one who would have deserved the Holy Spirit to rest upon'him, if his time had been worthy of it." And all eyes turned towards Hillel (Tos. Sotah, xiii. 3) . He was lamented after his death as "the humble, the pious, the disciple of Ezra."