Rabbi Bana'ah

Who is Rabbi Bana'ah?

R. Bana'ah was a Jewish sage living in the 3rd century, during the intermediate period between the Tannaim and the Amoraim sages' eras.

He was named as such because after the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem he engaged in the construction of the ruins of Jerusalem. He was also known as "Ha-Tzadik ha-Lavan", because it is storied that when the governor of the Jews had predestined predestination upon them to use only black chickens for the Kapparot ritual act instead of white chickens, as was customary at the time, they, for lack of any other option, bought black chickens, and went to pray on R. Bana'ah's grave, and when they returned, they found the black chickens they bought - turned white. Ever since he was also known as either "Tzadik ha-Tarnegolot" or "Ha-Tzadik ha-Lavan".

His most known saying is: