Nasi (Hebrew title)

For the Arab month by this name, see Nasi (month).
For the Malay/Indonesian dish, Nasi-Goreng see Fried rice.
Not to be confused with Nazi.

Nāśī’ (נָשִׂיא) is a Hebrew term meaning, roughly, "Prince", in Biblical Hebrew, or "President," in Modern Hebrew. During the Second Commonwealth period the Nasi was the highest ranking member and presided over the Sanhedrin, including when it sat as a criminal court. The position was created in about 191 BCE when the Sanhedrin lost confidence in the ability of the high priests to serve as its head. The Romans recognised the Nasi as "Patriarch of the Jews", and required all Jews to pay a tax for the upkeep of that office, which ranked high in the Roman official hierarchy. Gamaliel VI was the last nasi; he died in 425, and the Emperor suppressed the office of patriarch.

Certain great figures from the Jewish history are referred to by this title, e.g., Judah haNasi.

In modern Hebrew, Nasi means primarily "President", and is not used in its ancient meaning (the word for Prince is now "Nasich"). It is used as the Hebrew equivalent of "President" (Prime Minister is "Rosh Memshala").

Under Jewish law, the intercalary 13th month Adar Bet in the Hebrew calendar is always announced by the Nasi.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is currently the Nasi of an attempt to re-establish Judaism's High Court and Minor Courts.

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