Johanan ben Nappaha

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Johanan ben Nappaha was a follower of Judah ha-Nasi, and believed it to be his duty to carry on the writing of the Jerusalem Talmud. He started a school in Tiberias, and did something that was quite controversial at the time by letting anybody into his school if they wanted to learn. He was a practical and liberal man, and much loved by his people. He laid the foundations for the Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Talmud) and gives many traditions relating to the destruction of the Second Temple.

His colleague, Simeon ben Lakish, was also his brother-in-law. He was the first person to disagree with some of the Mishnah and want it changed. He was a very independent man and a creative thinker.

Succeeding Johanan ben Napaha as head of the Tiberias school was Eleazar ben Pedat.

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