Hillel, one of the most famous sages of the Mishnah, was born in Babylon and moved to Jerusalem. He became one of the greatest leaders of the Jewish nation.
When Hillel arrived to the land of Israel, he was very poor and therefore didn’t have enough money to pay the fee for entering the Beit Midrash (hall of learning). It is told that one winter day, he climbed to the rooftop, eager to listen to the rabbi’s teachings. Hillel lay there all night long with his ear on the chimney, so as not to miss a word. The snow, which was falling all night, started piling on his body and he nearly froze to death.
When the Rabbis saw his shadow through the chimney they rushed his lifeless body into the Beit Midrash and warmed him up by the fire place. From then on the entering fee was canceled and poverty was no more a barrier to becoming a Torah scholar.
Hillel was known for his love and patience to his fellow man, which was also expressed in his halachic rulings as opposed to the strict rulings of Shamai.
One of the stories which demonstrate this is about a gentile who approached Shamai and asked to convert, with the condition that the Torah should be taught to him within a short time, while he is standing on one foot. Shamai rejected the gentile, who then turned to Hillel with the same request. Hillel agreed and told him: “Whatever is hateful to you do not do to your fellow man. This is the essence of the Torah and all the rest of the Torah teachings are its explanation. Now go learn the rest.” Indeed the gentile converted and became a G-d-fearing, learned Jew.
Hillel passed away at the age of 120 and was buried in Meron