Not Every Rashbi Is Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai: A Tale of Mistaken Identity

The Other Rashbi: Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, commonly referred to by the acronym Rashbi, was one of the greatest Torah sages in Jewish history. His teachings permeate the Zohar, the Mishnah, and the Talmud. Songs have been written in his honor, and his hilula (memorial celebration) on Lag BaOmer in Meron draws thousands each year.

But now is the time to note something surprising: not every Rashbi refers to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and not every Rashbi is buried in Meron.

In Menachot 99b, the Talmud states: “Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai: Even if one only recites the Shema morning and evening, he has fulfilled the verse ‘This book of Torah shall not depart from your mouth.’”

This statement seems puzzling. Rabbi Yeshayah Pick, the renowned 18th-century scholar who added important notes to the glosses Masoret HaShas, raises a powerful question: How can Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who in Berachot teaches that one must devote themselves entirely to Torah learning without concern for livelihood, now say that reciting Shema twice daily suffices?

This apparent contradiction leads Rabbi Pick to a compelling conclusion: the attribution in Menachot is likely a printing error. The statement, he argues, was not made by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai but by Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak, a different sage entirely, who was the teacher of Rabbi Yochanan.

More Than a Typo: When Two Rashbis Get Confused

Rabbi Pick notes that this is not the only case of confusion between these two sages. He cites a question posed to the Noda BiYehuda about a teaching in Yalkut Shimoni on Mishlei, which quotes “Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai” as citing a teaching from Rabbi Chiyya. This raises a historical problem: How could Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a student of Rabbi Akiva, be quoting Rabbi Chiyya, who lived a generation later?

Again, Rabbi Pick suggests the same solution: this was not Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai at all, but Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak, who is occasionally referred to as "Rashbi" and is often confused with his more famous predecessor.

Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak lived in the final generation of the Tannaim, in the Land of Israel, and was the primary teacher of Rabbi Yochanan, the leading Amora. He is described in the Talmud as traveling and teaching Torah alongside Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish. A kohen (priest) by lineage, he died in the city of Lod. His brother, wishing to take part in the burial as one of the permitted close relatives, arrived too late, and the body had already been placed in the coffin. Wanting to see his brother one last time, he asked for the cover to be lifted. Among those who attended the funeral was his devoted student, Rabbi Yochanan.

Conclusion
While Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai remains a towering figure in Jewish history, it’s important not to overlook Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak. His teachings were foundational to one of the greatest sages of the Talmud, and he deserves recognition in his own right. The confusion between these two "Rashbis" is more than a textual curiosity. It’s a reminder to look closely, read carefully, and honor every voice in the chain of Torah transmission.