Nasi
Nasi is a description for a person who is elevated above others. When the term Nasi is mentioned in the Torah without qualification, it refers to a person who holds the highest authority position among the people in his particular domain, and "there is none above him except Hashem his G-d," such as a king who is the highest practical leadership, or the Nasi of the Sanhedrin who is the highest Torah leadership[1].
The most notable difference between the Nasi and the rest of the people is that his laws regarding bringing sacrifices differ from those of an ordinary Jew, and are explained in Parshat Vayikra: "When a Nasi sins, causing guilt to the people."
Nasi in the Time of the Mishnah[edit | edit source]
During the Mishnah period, Nasi was a title given to the descendants of King David's daughters, namely Hillel and his descendants until Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and his son who succeeded him.
Initially, the position of Nasi was the most important in the nation, including the implementation of judgments. However, during the period of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, the government transferred the power of implementing judgments to the "Reish Galuta" (Exilarch), and the position of Nasi openly became secondary in importance to the role of the Reish Galuta in Babylonia. While the descendants of King David's sons served in the position of Reish Galuta in Eretz Yisrael, the descendants of King David's daughters served in a position of lesser authority. This follows the verse: "The scepter shall not depart from Yehuda, nor a lawgiver from between his feet." "The scepter from Yehuda" refers to the Reish Galuta in Eretz Yisrael who rule with a staff, and "a lawgiver from between his feet" refers to the Nasi outside of Eretz Yisrael.
According to halacha, the Nasi is not considered a Nasi who is a king mentioned in the Torah regarding bringing sacrifices, since the definition of a king is that "there is none above him except Hashem his G-d," whereas the Nesi'im in Eretz Yisrael did not have absolute authority, as they were dependent on the Reish Galuta in Babylonia.
The descendants of Hillel HaZaken served in the role of Nesi'ut during the Mishnah period, until Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and his son Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi.
It was customary that the leadership position was divided between the Nasi of the Sanhedrin and the Av Beit Din. While the Nasi of the Sanhedrin was the leader in the Torah domain and resolved all uncertainties, the Av Beit Din was the leader in other areas concerning Klal Yisrael.
Nasi of the Generation[edit | edit source]
Expanded topic – Head of the Children of Israel
Chassidut revealed that in every generation there is a Nasi HaDor (Leader of the Generation) who encompasses the souls of all the Jewish people in his generation. The power of the Nasi is a spiritual power, connecting all Jewish souls to Hashem through the particular spark that exists within each member of the Jewish people.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- Hilchata LeMeshicha Chapters 1-8.
External Links[edit | edit source]
- Nitzutzei Rebbi, On Chabad Leadership - A collection of the Rebbe's statements regarding the concept of leadership, in the Hitkashrus weekly publication on the eve of Yud Shevat 5777
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ See Ramban on the Torah, Shemos 22:27, in the explanation of the term "Nasi": "The head of authority over all of Israel, whether that authority is through the rule of kingship or through the rule of Torah, because the Nasi of the Sanhedrin is at the highest level in the authority of the Torah." And similarly in Sefer HaMitzvos of the Rambam, Negative Commandment 316: "Nasi... has the authority to command and is at the highest level, whether his dominion is governmental or Torah-based, and he is the head of the Yeshiva." See at length in Hilchasa L'Meshicha, Chapter 1 and onward.