Nasi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nāśī’ (נָשִׂיא) is a Hebrew term meaning, roughly, "Prince", in Biblical Hebrew, or "President," in Modern Hebrew. In classical times it was the title given to the head of the Sanhedrin, the supreme court and legislative body of ancient Israel. The position was created in about 191 BCE when the Sanhedrin lost confidence in the ability of the high priests to serve as its head. The Romans recognised the Nasi as "Patriarch of the Jews", and required all Jews to pay a tax for the upkeep of that office, which ranked high in the Roman official hierarchy. Gamaliel VI was the last nasi; he died in 425, and the Emperor suppressed the office of patriarch.

Certain great figures from the Jewish history are referred to by this title, e.g., Judah haNasi.

In modern Hebrew, Nasi means primarily "President", and is not used in its ancient meaning (the word for Prince nowadays is "Nasich"). It is used as the Hebrew equivalent of "President" (Prime Minister is "Rosh Memshala").

Under Jewish law, the intercalary 13th month Adar 2 in Hebrew calendar is always announced by the Nasi.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is currently the Nasi of an attempt to re-establish Judaism's High Court and Minor Courts.

[edit] See also

Modern attempts to revive the Sanhedrin

[edit] External links

• Sanhedrin history
• Perspectives on transformational leadership in the Sanhedrin
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Nasi