Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakkai and the City of Yavne.

Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakkai, head of the Sanhedrin, saw that Jerusalem could not hold out under the Roman Siege in 70 CE. The Gemara, Gittin (56a) relates the story that in a desperate attempt to save Jewish continuity, he escaped in a burial casket and was taken to Vespasian. There, he greeted Vespasian as the Emperor, even though Vitellius was the ruling emperor at the time. Vespasian replied that such a statement is deserving of capital punishment.

At that moment, a messenger arrived from Rome, declaring that Vitellius had died and Vespasian was chosen as his successor and should return home immediately. Impressed by Rabbi Yohanan's prediction, Vespasian granted him one wish, to which Rabbi Yohanan famously replied: “Give me Yavne and its sages,” negotiating safe passage for the Sanhedrin to relocate to the city of Yavne.

Yohanan Ben Zakkai was the first Jewish sage attributed the title of “rabbi” in the Mishnah.