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Hillel

Hillel

2 9.9
A Jewish rabbi and teacher from long ago who still influences Jewish law
  • proper noun
: Hillel
  • To paraphrase Rabbi Hillel: To continue being good, we must continue to be.

And he said, well, just like Rabbi Hillel said, if you cancel the debts, how are you going to get creditors to make loans again?

Examples

  • At the Hillel House, I broke bread.

  • Well, Hillel said, "He that increases wisdom increases life."

  • As Hillel asked, "If I am only for myself, then what am I?"

    Academic text (1990)
  • I was giving a talk at Harvard Hillel that day.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Well, Hillel said, "He that increases wisdom increases life."

  • And he said, well, just like Rabbi Hillel said, if you cancel the debts, how are you going to get creditors to make loans again?

  • As you may know, Rabbi Hillel, the great scholar, was once challenged by some smart Alec to summarize the wisdom of the Torah while standing on one foot.

  • It's a quote from Jewish religious leader Hillel: "And if not now, when?"

Surface Forms

Hillel main

Etymology

The name Hillel comes from the Hebrew word הלל which means 'praise'. So the famous rabbi Hillel is easy to remember as a teacher who praised God and taught people to do good.