Gamaliel of Jabneh [key], fl. a.d. 100, Jewish scholar; grandson of the Gamaliel who, according to tradition, taught St. Paul the law. A Palestinian Tanna, he succeeded Johanan ben Zakkai as head of the academy at Jamnia. He centralized rabbinic authority and was recognized by the Romans as a leader of his people. He played a significant role in the formulation of two important innovations in Jewish ritual: the final version of the Amidah (the 18 blessings) and the Passover seder, which substituted for the paschal sacrifice of the now destroyed Temple. He also helped to standardize the Jewish calendar.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Judaism: Biographies
