Yohanan ben Zakkaï
Ier siècle
What remains when the holy place is destroyed: study, prayer, and kindness given back.
Who was Yohanan ben Zakkaï?
A sage of Judea and a disciple of Hillel, he taught in Jerusalem through the war against Rome. With the city under siege he had himself carried out beyond the walls in a coffin and obtained from the Roman general leave to open a school at Yavneh. The Temple burned in 70; before students weeping for the lost altar, he handed on a way of standing before God without sacrifice, through study, prayer and kindness done to one's neighbour.
In their own words
If you have learned much Torah, do not take the credit for yourself, for it is for this that you were formed.
My son, do not grieve. We have another atonement, as good as that one: it is acts of loving-kindness.
May it be his will that the fear of Heaven be upon you as the fear of flesh and blood.