ḤANINA (HANANIAH) II.:
Amora of the fifth century; contemporary of the Palestinian Mani II., and of Rabina, one of the compilers of the Babylonian Talmud (Yer. Ber. iii. 6a; Niddah 66b). Ḥanina attended the schools of Palestine, his native country, and concluded his pupilage under Mani II. (Yer. Pes. i. 27d; Yer. M. Ḳ. iii. 82c). He gradually rose to his master's level and discussed with him as a "fellow student" many halakic questions (Yer. Sanh. ii. 19d; Yer. Shebu. vi. 37b). Eventually he removed to Sepphoris, where he became the religious head of the community; hence he is sometimes cited as Ḥanina of Sepphoris (Yer. Ned. ix. 41b). When, in consequence of Roman persecutions at Tiberias, Mani also removed to Sepphoris, Ḥanina resigned the leadership in his favor—an act of self-abnegation extolled by the Rabbis as having few parallels (Yer. Pes. vi. 33a). Ḥanina, however, did not long remain in Palestine. As the persecutions became general and intolerable, he emigrated to Babylonia, where Ashi frequently sought information from him (B. B. 25b; Ḥul. 139b). Ḥanina's family accompanied him, and were highly respected in their adopted country. There Ḥanina's daughter married the son of Rabina (Niddah 66b).
- Halévy, Dorot ha-Rishonim, ii. 576.
