 Humility was a virtue ascribed to Judah, and he admired it greatly in his father, who openly recognized Shimon bar Yochai's superiority, thus displaying the same modesty as the Bnei Bathyra when they gave way to Hillel, and as Jonathan when he voluntarily gave precedence to his friend David.Nothing is known regarding the time when Judah succeeded his father as leader of the Palestinian Jews.According to Rashi, Judah's father, Rabbi Simon ben Gamliel, had served as the "nasi" of the Sanhedrin in Usha, before it transferred to Shefar'am.