Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair: The Tanna of Miracles, Humility, and Unshakable Integrity

Miracles Born of Purity

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was a fourth-generation Tanna of the second century and the father-in-law of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. He lived during the time of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi and became renowned not only for his towering righteousness but also for the miracles that he experienced.

One famous miracle is recorded in the Talmud: While on a journey to redeem captives, he came upon a river with no bridge and waters too deep to cross. Rabbi Pinchas turned to the river and declared,

“River, split your waters and let me pass. I must fulfill the mitzvah (Divine commandment) of redeeming captives!”

The river “responded”:

“You go to fulfill the will of your Creator, and I flow according to His will. You may or may not succeed in your mission, but I certainly fulfill mine. Why should I split for you?”

Rabbi Pinchas replied, “If you do not split, I decree that water shall never flow in you again!” With that, the river split, and he crossed unhindered.

Even His Donkey Kept the Torah

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair's holiness even extended to his animals. On one occasion, his donkey was offered barley to eat while staying at an inn. The donkey, although hungry, refused to touch the food. The innkeepers thought it was being picky, so they cleaned and sifted the barley, but the donkey still refused. When Rabbi Pinchas heard, he asked, “Did you separate ma’aser (tithes)?” Only after tithing the barley did the donkey eat.

In another story, thieves stole the same donkey. For three days, the animal refused to eat. Afraid it would die, the thieves let it go. The donkey found its way back home and again refused food until the barley had been properly tithed.

These stories gave rise to a famous rabbinic saying:

“If the earlier generations were like angels, then we are like humans; and if they were like humans, we are like donkeys, though not like the donkey of Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair.”

The Ladder of Spiritual Growth

Rabbi Pinchas taught his students a profound spiritual path, a ladder of personal development that has been quoted for centuries:

“Torah leads to watchfulness (zehirut),
watchfulness leads to alacrity (zerizut),
alacrity leads to cleanliness (nekiyut),
cleanliness leads to separation (perishut),
separation leads to purity (taharah),
purity leads to piety (chasidut),
piety leads to humility (anavah),
humility leads to fear of sin (yirat chet),
fear of sin leads to holiness (kedushah),
holiness leads to Divine inspiration (ruach hakodesh),
and Divine inspiration leads to resurrection of the dead (techiyat hameitim)”
(Avodah Zarah 20b).

This teaching was not abstract—it reflected the life he lived.

Strength Through Kindness and Truth

When asked by his students how he merited to perform such open miracles, Rabbi Pinchas answered plainly:

“If you can say with certainty that you have never wronged another Jew and never caused someone shame, then you too can perform miracles.”

In the Talmud (Sotah 49a), he is quoted in mourning for a fallen generation:

“Since the destruction of the Temple, the scholars are ashamed, people of action have diminished, and the strong and the deceitful have taken control. On whom can we rely? Only on our Father in Heaven.”

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair’s life was defined by humility, holiness, and complete integrity. Even rivers and animals responded to his purity. Centuries later, his teachings remain a blueprint for spiritual growth.