Rabbi Yossi ben Kisma, a Tanna of the third generation, lived and taught Torah in Caesarea, where he was one of the leaders of his generation. Facing the Roman decrees, he advocated moderation and opposed rebellion.

Pirkei Avot relates that a man offered him a vast fortune to come and live in his town. He refused: "Even if you gave me all the silver and gold in the world, I would live only in a place of Torah." The Talmud also records his conversation with Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon, whom he warned against teaching Torah in public, as the Romans had forbidden. It further relates that when he died, the great men of Rome came to bury him, and on their return found Rabbi Chanina teaching Torah in public: they executed him by fire.

Asked by his students when the Messiah would come, he answered: "When this gate falls, is rebuilt, falls, is rebuilt and falls again, and there is no time to rebuild it before the son of David comes." Before his death he asked to be buried deep in the earth, lest his grave be desecrated.

According to several sources he rests in Meron, beside Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira and other Tannaim.