Hanina [Hananyah] Segan ha-Kohanim Rabbi Hanina Segan haKohanim | רבי חנינא סגן הכהנים , sages of the talmud (, lit. "R. Hanina (Hananiah) [the] Segan (Deputy) Ha-Kohanim (High priest)") was of the first Generation of the Jewish Tanna sages. He was the father of Rabbi Simeon ben ha-Segan.

He commented on what he had seen occur during the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. The book Yihusei Tanna'im ve-Amora'im says that he was killed along with Shimon ben Gamliel and Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen. It is also said that he was one of the Ten Martyrs, and was killed on the 25th of Sivan (late spring).Arba'ah Turim and Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 580

Hanina earned his title due to the role he fulfilled - as Deputy to the Kohen Gadol (High priest) in the Temple. Ha-Segan was a position with the responsibility of overseeing the actions of the work of the Temple priest staff, as well as a stand-in position, ready to take the role of High priest in case the incumbent was found unfit to perform his functions on the temple. Hanina was considered a "Segan Ha-Kohanim", only second to the High priest, as he himself said: "R. Hanina the Segan of the priests said: Why a 'Segan' [Deputy] is ever appointed? In case the high-priest became unfit for service, the 'Segan' Deputy should enter at once to do the service".Talmud, Tractate Sotah, 42a

See also Segan

References