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The Tannaim
Tannaim was a term used for the teachers of the Mishnah.
Tannaim (plural of Aramaic tanna, = one who studies or teaches). They were Jewish sages of the period from Hillel to the compilation of the
Mishnah. They were considered as both scholars and teachers, educating those in
the synagogues as well as in the academies. Their opinions are found either in
the Mishnah or as collected in the Tosefta. After the fall of Jerusalem and
the destruction of the Temple (70 A.D.), Johanan ben Zakkai reconstituted the
academy at Jabneh, where the work of the Tannaim flourished. Akiba ben Joseph was
among their disciples. The final compilation and redaction of the opinions and
rulings of the tannaim was carried out (200 A.D.) under the administration of
Judah ha-Nasi, and resulted in the Mishnah, which is accorded canonical status
and forms the basis for all later rabbinic discussions. The Tannaim were
succeeded by the Amoraim.