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'''Shammai''' [Hebrew:'''שמאי'''] was a Jewish [[Talmud]]ic scholar of the first century B.C.<ref name="Shammai">http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=549&letter=S&search=Shammai</ref> He was the most eminent contemporary and the halakic opponent of Hillel, and is almost invariably mentioned along with him.<ref name="Shammai"/> After Menahem the Essene had resigned the office of vice-president of the [[Sanhedrin]], Shammai was elected to it, [[Hillel]] being at the time president.<ref name="Shammai"/> Shammai was undoubtedly an Israeli, and hence took an active part in all the political and religious complications of his native land.<ref name="Shammai"/> Of an irascible temperament and easily excited, he lacked the gentleness and tireless patience which so distinguished Hillel.<ref name="Shammai"/> Once, when a heathen came to him and asked to be converted to Judaism upon conditions which Shammai held to be impossible, he drove the applicant away; whereas Hillel, by his gentle manner, succeeded in converting him.<ref name="Shammai"/>

'''Shammai''' [Hebrew:'''שמאי'''] was a Jewish [[Talmud]]ic scholar of the first century B.C.<ref name="Shammai">http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=549&letter=S&search=Shammai</ref> He was the most eminent contemporary and the halakic opponent of Hillel, and is almost invariably mentioned along with him.<ref name="Shammai"/> After Menahem the Essene had resigned the office of vice-president of the [[Sanhedrin]], Shammai was elected to it, [[Hillel]] being at the time president.<ref name="Shammai"/> Shammai was undoubtedly an Israeli, and hence took an active part in all the political and religious complications of his native land.<ref name="Shammai"/> Of an irascible temperament and easily excited, he lacked the gentleness and tireless patience which so distinguished Hillel.<ref name="Shammai"/> Once, when a heathen came to him and asked to be converted to Judaism upon conditions which Shammai held to be impossible, he drove the applicant away; whereas Hillel, by his gentle manner, succeeded in converting him.<ref name="Shammai"/>

Nevertheless Shammai was in no wise a misanthrope.<ref name="Shammai"/> He himself appears to have realized the disadvantages of his violent temper; hence he recommended a friendly attitude toward all.<ref name="Shammai"/> His motto was: "Make the study of the Law thy chief occupation; speak little, but accomplish much; and receive every man with a friendly countenance".<ref name="Shammai"/> He was modest even toward his pupils.<ref name="Shammai"/>

Nevertheless, Shammai was in no wise a misanthrope.<ref name="Shammai"/> He himself appears to have realized the disadvantages of his violent temper; hence he recommended a friendly attitude toward all.<ref name="Shammai"/> His motto was: "Make the study of the Law thy chief occupation; speak little, but accomplish much; and receive every man with a friendly countenance".<ref name="Shammai"/> He was modest even toward his pupils.<ref name="Shammai"/>

In his religious views Shammai was strict in the extreme.<ref name="Shammai"/> He wished to make his son, while still a child, conform to the law regarding fasting on the Day of Atonement; and he was dissuaded from his purpose only through the insistence of his friends (Yoma 77b).<ref name="Shammai"/> Once, when his daughter-in-law gave birth to a boy on the Feast of Tabernacles, he broke through the roof of the chamber in which she lay in order to make a sukkah of it, so that his new-born grandchild might fulfil the religious obligation of the festival (Suk. 28a).<ref name="Shammai"/> Some of his sayings also indicate his strictness in the fulfilment of religious duties.<ref name="Shammai"/>

In his religious views Shammai was strict in the extreme.<ref name="Shammai"/> He wished to make his son, while still a child, conform to the law regarding fasting on the Day of Atonement; and he was dissuaded from his purpose only through the insistence of his friends (Yoma 77b).<ref name="Shammai"/> Once, when his daughter-in-law gave birth to a boy on the Feast of Tabernacles, he broke through the roof of the chamber in which she lay in order to make a sukkah of it, so that his new-born grandchild might fulfil the religious obligation of the festival (Suk. 28a).<ref name="Shammai"/> Some of his sayings also indicate his strictness in the fulfilment of religious duties.<ref name="Shammai"/>