Later Rabbinic tradition traced the official nasi (patriarch) and head of the court all the way back to the Hasmonean and Herodian periods. In these passages, in which there appear lists of those who prohibited and permitted the laying on of hands on sacrifices offered on festivals, we observe the claim of continuity of the chains of tradition between the Pharasaic sages and the early tannaim, the teachers of the Mishnah.

Mishnah Hagigah 2:2-3

2 Yose ben Yoezer says [on a festival day] not to lay [hands on the offering before it is slaughtered]. Yose ben Yohanan says to lay [hands].

Joshua ben Perahiah says not to lay [hands]. Nittai the Arbelite says to lay [hands].

Judah ben Tabbai says not to lay [hands]. Simeon ben Shetah says to lay [hands].

Shemaiah says to lay [hands]. Abtalion says not to lay [hands].

Hillel and Menahem did not differ, but Menahem went forth, and Shammai entered in.

Shammai says not to lay [hands]. Hillel says to lay [hands].

The former were nasis [patriarchs], and the latter, fathers of the court [chief magistrates].

3 The House of Shammai say, “They may bring peace-offerings [on a festival day] and do not lay the hands thereon; but [they do] not [bring] burnt-offerings.”

And the House of Hillel say, “They may bring [both] peace-offerings and burnt-offerings and lay their hands thereon.”

Tosefta Hagigah 2:8, 10

8 They differed only on the laying of hands.

“They are five pairs. The three of the first pairs who said not to lay on the hands, and the two of the last pairs who said to lay on hands were nasis. The second ones [mentioned] were heads of the court,” so Rabbi Meir. 

Rabbi Judah [bar Ilai] said, “Simeon ben Shetah [was] nasi. Judah ben Tabbai [was] head of the court….”

10 What is the laying on of hands concerning which they were differed? The House of Shammai say, “They do not lay hands on the festival, and as to peace-offerings, the one who celebrates through them lays hands on them on the day before the festival.”

The House of Hillel say, “They bring peace-offerings and burnt-offerings and lay hands on them [as in the Mishnah].