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Reish Lakish
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His love for the Jewish people
His love for the Jewish people was as amazing as his love for the Torah. He went to a city once with Abbahu, that was filled with non Jews, and corrupted Jews. When Abbahu began to speak badly about the people there, Reish Lakish said "God does not want evil spoken of Israel" (Eccles. R. 1:6)." Although the Jews at this time were so evil, the Reish Lakish still could not speak badly about them and viewed every Jewish person as a peice of Hashem.
The death of the Reish Lakish
The Reish Lakish died younger then he should have. According to the aggadah,he died from grief after Rav Yochanan, in a halakhic discussion between them, referred to his past as a gladiator by saying "A robber knows his trade." After regretting saying this, Rav Yochanan was so regretful that he died from mental anguish.
How did he become a great Torah scholar?
His childhood
Rabbi Yochanan saw the physical strength of the Reish Lakish, and persuaded him to use his mental strength instead and devote his life to learning torah, gibing him his beautiful sister to marry in return.
Reish Lakish began to study the Torah with all his strength, and became one of the greatest torah scholars of his time. He respected Rabbi Yochana, initially his teacher, but later his equivalent a lot. The Reish Lakish did not prepare a section of Mishna less than forty times before listening to a discussion of it by Rabbi Yochanan, so that he would impress him.
-Before he became one of the most prominent Amoraim of the second generation, the Reish Lakish was a bandit and gladiator.
-In his youth he sold himself to become a gladiator in contests, which at the time was a common practice in Israel, because he had no other way to earn money. For a time he also worked as a plantation guard.
-He grew up as a fighter, and is known for being very strong physically (along with mentally).
His love for Torah
When he addressed people, his own students or the public, the Reish Lakish would always emphasize the importance of the mitzvah to learn Torah. He reminded them of the great reward it gives, and told students to be hard working in their studies. To him the study of the Torah was an amazing obligation which could not be neglected.
His name:
English- Simeon ben Lakish Hebrew- Shimon ben Lakish
Aramaic- Shimon bar Lakish Nickname- Resh Lakish
(known by this)
Where and When did he live?
The Reish Lakish lived in the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. He was born in Bosra, east of the Jordan River, in around 200 CE, but lived most of his life in Sepphoris.
He lived in the third century CE.