Eleazar ha-Kappar


Eleazar ha-Kappar was a Jewish rabbi of the fifth and last generation of the Tannaim era. He was a colleague of Judah haNasi, and was in the company of him occasionally. He spent most of his life at ancient Katzrin. He was the father of Bar Kappara, who is sometimes cited by the same name. He had a nephew named Hiyya, who was known for his pleasant voice.

Teachings

He is cited infrequently in the Mishnah, but more often in the Talmud and works of midrash, on both halachic and aggadic topics.
In Derech Eretz Zutta he teaches a long list of ethical rules.

Quotes

In a mosque in "Kfar Devora", a door-lintel was discovered decorated with two birds of prey, holding nosegay in their beaks. The lintel bears the inscription:
This is the only archaeological finding from the era of the Tannaim in which the term "beit midrash" appears. The lintel is exhibited at the Golan Archaeological Museum in Katzrin.
Eleazar himself is noted for a saying in praise of humility, which uses as a metaphor the lintel and other parts of a door:

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography