Many people believe that the ancient Sages were occupied only with study of the Torah and the Talmud. The fact is, however, that most of the hundreds of Talmudic Sages never received any remuneration from their study or teaching. Their study was their avocation. Their vocations, however, in many cases, involved physical hard work.
The following are a few of the many:
Rabbi Joseph was a locksmith.
Rav Sheshet was a wood-carrier.
Simon, the Pakuli, was a wool-cleaner.
Jose, the son of Halaphta, was a tanner.
Rabbi Jose was a net-maker.
Rabbi Meir was a secretary and letter writer.
Rabbi Nehuniah was a ditch digger.
Rabbi Johanan was a shoemaker.
Abba Hoshiah was a launderer.
Rav Hisdah and Rav Papa were brewers.
Abba Bar Zeminah was a tailor.
Rav Adah Sabulah was a pearl-diver.
Rav Yehuday was a baker.
Hillel was a wood cutter, Shammai, a carpenter.
Rabbi Joshua, a blacksmith.
Rabbi Chanina, a shoemaker.
Rabbi Huna, a water-carrier.
Rabbi Simon Ben Lakish, called Resh-Lakish, was a circus performer.
- Excerpted from the book "What You Should Know about Jewish Religion, History, Ethics and Culture", by Rabbi Sidney Markowitz, page 46 - Carol Publishing Group
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