Hillel (born Babylon traditionally c.110 BCE, died 10 CE in Jerusalem) is a famous Jewish religious leader, one of the most important figures in Jewish history.
He is associated with the development of the Mishnah and the Talmud.
Renowned within Judaism as a sage and scholar, he is the founder of the House of Hillel school for Tannaïm (Sages of the Mishnah) and the founder of a dynasty of Sages who stand at the head of the Jews living in Judea until roughly the fifth century of the Common Era.
He is popularly known as the author of two sayings: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
But if I am only for myself, what am 'I'?"
And "If not now, when?"
and the expression of the ethic of reciprocity, or "Golden Rule": "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.
That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."
"As Hillel the Elder had stated, whosoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world.
And whosoever that saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world."
'Olam' can alternatively be translated 'infinity' or 'world'.
Hillel goes to Jerusalem in the prime of his life and attains a great age.
His actiive forty years of teaching likely covers the period of 30 BCE to 10 CE.
