Jerusalem Talmud Ketubot 12.3

משנה: אַלְמָנָה שֶׁאָמְרָה אֵי אֶפְשִׁי לָזוּז מִבֵּית בַּעֲלִי אֵין הַיּוֹרְשִׁין יְכוֹלִין לוֹמַר לָהּ לְכִי לְבֵית אָבִיךְ וְאָנוּ זָנִין אוֹתָךְ שָׁם. אֶלָּא זָנִין אוֹתָהּ וְנוֹתְנִין לָהּ מָדוֹר לְפִי כְבוֹדָהּ.

MISHNAH: If the widow said, I cannot move from my husband’s house, the heirs cannot say to her, go to your father’s house and we shall support you there, but they support her and give her a dwelling commensurate with her honor.

הלכה: אַלְמָנָה שֶׁאָמְרָה אֵי אֶפְשִׁי לָזוּז מִבֵּית בַּעֲלִי כול׳. כְּתִיב בַּמֵּתִים חָפְשִׁי כֵּיוָן שֶׁמֵּת אָדָם נַעֲשֶׂה חָפְשִׁי מִן הַמִּצְוֹת.

HALAKHAH: “If the widow said, I cannot move from my husband’s house,” etc. It is written (Ps. 88:6): “Among the dead is freedom.” When a person dies he becomes free from the Commandments.

רִבִּי צִיוָה שְׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים בִּשְׁעַת פְּטִירָתוֹ. אַל תָּזוּז אַלְמָנָתִי מִבֵּיתִי. וְאַל תַּסְפִּידוּנִי בָּעֲיָירוֹת. וּמִי שֶׁנִּיטְפַּל בִּי בְּחַיָּי יְטַפֵּל בִּי בְמוֹתִי. אַל תָּזוּז אַלְמָנָתִי מִבֵּיתִי. וְלֹא מַתְנִיתָא הִיא. אַלְמָנָה שֶׁאָמְרָה. אֵי אֶפְשִׁי לָזוּז מִבֵּית בַּעֲלִי. אָמַר רִבִּי דּוֹסָא. דְּלָא יֵימְרוּן לָהּ. בֵּייתָא דִּנְשִׂוָותָא הוּא מִשְׁתַּעְבֵּד לִנְשִׂוָותָא. אָמַר רִבִּי לָעְזָר בֶּן יוֹסֵי. כְּהָדָא דְתַנֵּי. דָּרָה בַבַּיִת כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהָיְתָה דָּרָה וּבַעֲלָהּ נָתוּן בִּמְדִינַת הַיָּם. וּמִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּכְלֵי כֶסֶף וּבִכְלֵי זָהָב כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהָיְתָה מִשְׁתַּמֶּשֶׁת וּבַעֲלָהּ נָתוּן בִּמְדִינַת הַיָּם. וְנִיזּוֹנֶת כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהָיְתָה נִיזּוֹנֶת וּבַעֲלָהּ נָתוּן בִּמְדִינַת הַיָּם. וְאַל תַּסְפִּידוּנִי בָּעֲיָירוֹת. מִפְּנֵי הַמַּחֲלוֹקֶת. וּמִי שֶׁנִּיטְפַּל בִּי בְּחַיָּי יְטַפֵּל בִּי בְמוֹתִי. אָמַר רִבִּי חֲנַנְיָה דְּצִיפּוֹרִין. כְּגוֹן יוֹסֵף אֶפְרָתִי. יוֹסֵה חֵפָנִי. רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה מוֹסִיף. אַל תַּרְבּוּ עָלַי תַּכְרִיכִין. וּתְהֵא אֲרוֹנִי נְקוּבָה לָאָרֶץ. מִילְתָא אָמְרָה בְּסַדִּין אֶחָד הוּא נִקְבַּר רִבִּי. דְּרִבִּי אָמַר. כְּמַה דְּבַר נַשָּׁא אֲזִיל הוּא אֲתִי. וְרַבָּנִין אָמְרִין. כְּמוֹ דְבַר נָשׁ אֲזִיל הוּא אֲתִי. תַּנֵּי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי נָתָן. כְּסוּת הַיּוֹרֶדֶת עִם אָדָם לִשְׁאוֹל הִיא בָאָה עִמּוֹ. מַאי טַעֲמָא. תִּתְהַפֵּךְ כְּחוֹמֶר חוֹתָם וְיִתְיַצְּבוּ כְּמוֹ לְבוּשׁ. אַנְטוֹלִינוֹס שְׁאַל לְרִבִּי. מַהוּ הָדֵין דִּכְתִיב תִּתְהַפֵּךְ כְּחוּמֶר חוֹתָם. אָמַר לֵיהּ. מִי שֶׁהוּא מֵבִיא אֶת הַדּוֹר הוּא מַלְבִּישׁוֹ.

Rebbi commanded three things on his death-bed: My widow should not move from my house; do not eulogize me in small towns; and he who served me during my lifetime should also serve me in death. “My widow should not move from my house,” is that not a Mishnah? “The widow who said, I cannot possibly move from my husband’s house …” Rebbi Dositheos said, that they should not say, this is the house of the patriarchate and must serve the patriarchate. Rebbi Eleazar bar Yose said, as we have stated: “She lives in the houses just as she lived while her husband was overseas, she uses silver and gold vessels just as she used to while her husband was overseas, she is fed just as she was fed while her husband was overseas.” “Do not eulogize me in small towns” because of the quarrels. “He who served me during my lifetime should also serve me in death;” Rebbi Ḥananiah from Sepphoris said, for example Yose Ephrati and Joseph from Haifa. Rebbi Ḥizqiah added, do not use many shrouds on me and let my coffin have holes at the bottom. These words say that Rebbi was buried in a single shroud since Rebbi said, not as a man left, he will come. But the rabbis say, just as a man left, he will come. It was stated in the name of Rebbi Nathan: The garment that went with a person to the grave will come back with him. What is the reason? (Job 38:14) “The seal turns itself around like clay, they appear in dress.” Antoninus asked Rebbi, what is the meaning of what is written: “The seal turns itself around like clay?” He said to him, He Who brings the generation clothes it.

רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן מְפַקֵּד. אַלְבְּשׁוּנִי בּוֹרְדִּיקָא לָא חִיוְרִין וְלָא אוּכְמִין. אִין קָמִית בֵּינֵי צַדִּיקַיַא לָא נִבְהָת. וְאִין קָמִית בֵּינֵי רְשִׁיעַיָיא לָא נִבְהִית. רִבִּי יֹאשַׁיָּא פְּקִיד. אַלְבְּשׁוּנִי חִיוְורִין חֲפוּתִין. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ. מַה אַתְּ טָב מִן רַבָּךְ. אָמַר לוֹן. וּמַה אֲנָא בְהִית בְּעוֹבְדַּיי. רִבִּי יִרְמְיָה מְפַקֵּד. אַלְבְּשׁוּנִי חִיוְרִין חֲפוּתִין. אַלְבְּשׁוּנִי דִּנְרָסַיי. וֶהָבוּן מְסָנַאיי בְּרַגְלַיי וְחוּטְרָא בְיָדַי וִיהֲבוּנִי עַל סִיטְרָא. אִין אֲתִי מְשִׁיחָא וַאֲנָא מָעֲתָד.

Rebbi Joḥanan commanded: Dress me in beige, neither white nor black. If I rise among the just I shall not be ashamed, if I rise among the wicked I shall not be ashamed. Rebbi Joshia commanded: Dress me in clean white. They said to him, in what are you better than your teacher? He said to them, why should I be ashamed of my deeds? Rebbi Jeremiah commanded: Dress me in clean white, dress me in my socks, put my shoes on my feet and a walking stick in my hand, lay me on my side; when the Messiah comes I shall be ready.

צִיפּוֹרַיָיא אָמְרִין. מָאן דַּאֲמַר לָן דְּמִיתְ רִבִּי. אֲנָן קְטָלִין לֵיהּ. אֲדִיק לְהוֹן בַּר קַפָּרָא. רֵישֵׁיהּ מְכַוסֵּיי מָאנוֹי מְבַזְּעִין. אֲמַר לוֹן. יְצוֹקִים וְאֶרְאֶלִּים תְּפָשׂוּן בַּלּוּחוֹת וְגָבְרָה יָדָן שֶׁלָּאֶרְאֶלִּים וְחָטְפוּ אֶת הַלּוּחוֹת. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ. דְּמָךְ רִבִּי. אֲמַר לוֹן. אַתּוּן אָמְרִתוֹן. וְקָרְעוֹן. וְאָזִיל קָלָה לְקָרְעִיוּ לְגַו פִּתְתָה מַהֲלָךְ תְּלָתָא מִילִין.

The people from Sepphoris said: We shall kill anybody who tells us that Rebbi died. Bar Qappara associated with them, his head covered and his garments torn. He said to them: Earthlings and angels held the Tablets of the Covenant; the angels were stronger and they took away the Tablets. They said to him: Rebbi died. He said to them: You said it. They tore their clothes and the sound of the tearing was heard from the gate to a distance of three mil.

רִבִּי נָתָן בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי מָנָא. מַעֲשֵׂה נִיסִּים נַעֲשׂוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם. עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת הָיָה וְנִכְנְסוּ כָּל הָעַיָירוֹת לְהַסְפִּידוֹ. וְאַישֵׁרוֹנֵיהּ תְּמַנֵּי עֶשְׂרֵה (בניסָן) [כְּנִישָׁן] וְאַחְתּוֹנֵיהּ לְבֵית שָׁרַיי. וְתָלַת לוֹן יוֹמָא עַד שֶׁהָיָה כַּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מַגִּיעַ לְבֵיתוֹ וּמְמַלֵּא לוֹ חָבִית שֶׁלְּמַיִם וּמַדְלִיק אֶת הַנֵּר. כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁקְעָה הַחַמָּה קָרָא הַגֶּבֶר. שָׁרְיָין מְצִיקִין. אָמְרִין. דִּילְמָא דְחַלְּלִינָן שׁוּבְתָא. וָאָתִת בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה לְהוֹן. כָּל מִי שֶׁלֹּא נִתְעַצֵּל בְהֶסְפֵּידוֹ שֶׁלְּרִבִּי יְהֵא מְבוּשָּׂר לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא בַּר מִן קַצְרָה. כֵּיוָן דְּשָׁמַע כֵּן סְלִיק לְאִיגְרָא וּטְלִיק גַּרְמֵיהּ וּמִית. נְפָקַת בְּרַת קָלָא וְאָמְרָת וַאֲפִילוּ קַצְרָא.

Rebbi Naḥman in the name of Rebbi Mana: Miracles happened that day. It was Sabbath eve and all the surrounding towns came together to eulogize him. They made him [Rebbi] rest in eighteen synagogues until they brought him to his resting place but the day extended for them until each one had time to get to his house, fill an amphora of water, and light the candles. When the sun set, the rooster crowed. They were anxious and said, maybe we did desecrate the Sabbath? There came a voice and said to them, every one who was not lazy for the eulogies of Rebbi shall be announced for the life of the Future World, except the fuller. When the latter heard this, he climbed on the roof, threw himself down, and died. There came a voice and said, including the fuller.

רִבִּי הֲוָה יְתִיב לֵיהּ בְּצִיפּוֹרִין שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר שְׁנִין. וְקָרָא עַל גַּרְמֵיהּ וַיְחִי יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה. וַיְחִי יְהוּדָה בְצִיפּוֹרִין שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שְׁנִין. וּמִן גּוֹבֵּיהֶן עֲבַד תְּלַת עֶשְׂרֵה שְׁנִין חֲשֵׁישׁ שִׁינּוֹי. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי בֵּי רִבִּי בּוּן. כָּל אוֹתָן שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה לֹא מֵתָה חַיָּה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא הִפִּילָה עוּבָּרָה בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְלָמָּה חֲשֵׁישּׁ שִׁינּוֹי. חַד זְמָן הֲוָה עֲבַר. חָמָא חַד עֵיגַל מִיתְנְכֵיס. גָּעָה וְאָמְרָה לֵיהּ. רִבִּי. שֵׁיזְבִי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. לְכָךְ נוֹצָרְתָּה. וּבְסוֹף הֵיךְ אִינְשִׁמָת. חָמְתוֹן אִין קְטָלוּן חָדָא קַן דְּעַכְבָּרִין. אֲמַר לוֹן. אַרְפּוּנוֹן. וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו כְּתִיב.

Rebbi dwelt in Sepphoris seventeen years and applied to himself (Gen. 47:28): “Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years,” Jehudah lived in Sepphoris seventeen years. Of these he suffered from toothache for thirteen years. {Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun said, all these thirteen years no woman lying-in died in the Land of Israel and no pregnant woman had a miscarriage in the Land of Israel.} Why did he have a toothache? Once he saw a calf to be slaughtered when it bellowed and said to him, Rebbi, save me! He said to it, for that you were created. At the end, how was he healed? He saw them killing a burrow of rats. He said to them, let them live, it is written (Ps. 145:9) “His mercy extends to all His creatures.”

רִבִּי הֲוָה עִינְוָון סַגִּין. וְהֲוָה אֲמַר. כָּל מַה דְּיֵימַר לִי בַּר נַשָּׁא אֲנָא עֲבִיד. חוּץ מִמַּה שֶׁעָשׂוּ זִקְנֵי בְּתֵירָא לִזְקֵנִי. דְּשָׁרוּן גַּרְמוֹן וּמְנוֹנֵיהּ. אִין סְלִיק רַב הוּנָא רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא לְהָכָא אֲנָא מוֹתִיב לְעֵיל מִינַּי. דְּהוּא מִן יְהוּדָה וַאֲנָא מִן בִּנְיָמִין. דְּהוּא מִן דִּכְרַיָיא וַאֲנָא מִן נוּקְבְתָא. חַד זְמָן עָאַל רִבִּי חִיָיה רַבָּא לְגַבֵּיהּ. אֲמַרו לֵיהּ. הָא רַב הוּנָא לְכָאן. נִתְכַּרְכְּמוּ פָּנָיו שֶׁלְּרִבִּי. אָמַרו לֵיהּ. אֲרוֹנוֹ הוּא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ פּוּק חֲמִי מַה בָּעֵי לְכָאן. נְפַק וְלָא אַשְׁכַּח בַּר נַשׁ. וְיָדַע דְּהוּא כָעֵיס עֲלוֹי. עֲבַד דְּלָא עֲלִיל לְגַבֵּיהּ תַּלְתִּין יוֹמִין. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי בֵּירִבִּי בּוֹן. כִּי אתּוֹן תְּלִיתִיתֵי יוֹמַיָּא יְלַף רִבִּי מִינֵּיהּ כָּל כְּלָלָה דְּאוֹרָיְתָא. בְּסוֹף תְּלַת עֶשְׂרֵה שַׁנְיָיא וּתְלַתִּיתֵי יוֹמַיָיא עָאַל אֱלִיָּהוּ לְגַבֵּיהּ כִּדְמוּת רִבִּי חִיָיה רַבָּה. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. מַה מָרִי עֲבִיד. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. חַד שֵׁינָּא מְעִיקָא לִי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. חֲמִי לִי. וְחָמֵי לֵיהּ. וִיהַב אֶצְבָּעֵיהּ עֲלוֹי וְאִינְּשִׁמְתְּ. לְמָחָר עָאַל רִבִּי חִיָיה רַבָּה לְגַבֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. מַה מָרִי עֲבִיד. הַיי שִׁינָּיךְ מַה הִיא עֲבִידָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. מִן הַהִיא שַׁעְתָא דִּיהַבָת אֶצְבְּעָךְ עֲלוֹי אִינְּשִׁמָת. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמַר. אִי לָכֶם חַיּוֹת שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אִי לָכֶם עוּבָּרוֹת שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אֲמַר. לָא הֲוֵינָא אֲנָא. מִן הַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא שָׁרֵי רִבִּי עֲבִיד לֵיהּ אִיקָר. כַּד הֲוָה עֲלִיל לְבֵית וַועֲדָא הֲוָה אֲמַר. יִיכָּנֵס רִבִּי חִיָיה רַבָּה לִפְנִים מִמֶּנִּי. אָמַר לֵיהּ רִבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר יוֹסֵי לִפְנִים מִמֶּנִּי. אָמַר לֵיהּ. חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. אֶלָּא רִבִּי חִיָּא רַבָּה לִפְנִים וְרִבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בַּר יוֹסֵי לִפְנָי וְלִפְנִים. רִבִּי הֲוָה מַתְנֵי שְׁבָחֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי חִיָיה רַבָּה קוֹמֵי רִבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בֵּירִבִּי יוֹסֵי. חַד זְמָן חָמֵי גַּו בָּנִי וְלָא אִיתְכְּנַע מִן קוֹמוֹי. [אָמַר לֵיהּ אֲהִנּוֹ דְּאַתְּ מַתְנִי שְׁבָחֵיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ. מַה עֲבַד לָךְ. אָמַר לֵיהּ חָמִתֵיהּ גַּו בָּנִי וְלָא אִיתְכְּנַע מִן קוֹמוֹי.] אָמַר לֵיהּ. לָמָּה עֲבַדְתְּ כֵּן. אָמַר לֵיהּ. יֵיתִי עָלַי דְּאִין סְחִית לָא יָדְעִית. בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אַשְׁגְּרִית עֵינַ[י]י בְּכָל סֵפֶר תִּילִים אֲגָדָה. מִן הַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא מָסַר לֵיהּ תְּרֵין תַּלְמִידִין דִּי יְהַלְּכוּן עִימֵּיהּ גַּו סַכַּנְתָּא.

Rebbi was very meek and said, all a man might ask from me I am ready to do, except what the Elders of Bathyra did for my ancestor: they divested themselves and appointed him. If Rav Huna, the Head of the Diaspora, came here I would let him sit higher than myself since he is from the tribe of Judah and I am from Benjamin, he is from the male line and I am from the female. Once, the elder Rebbi Ḥiyya visited him and said, Rav Huna is outside. The face of Rebbi became saffron-colored. He [R. Ḥiyya] said to him, it is his coffin. He [Rebbi] said to him, go outside and look who wants you there. He stepped outside and did not find anybody; he understood that he [Rebbi] was angry with him. He did not visit him again for thirty days. Rebbi Yose bar Abun said, in those thirty days did Rav learn from him [R. Ḥiyya] the principles of Torah. At the end of thirteen years and thirty days, Elijah visited him [Rebbi] in the likeness of the older Rebbi Ḥiyya. He said to him, how does my lord feel? He said to him, one tooth hurts me. He said to him, show it to me. He showed it to him, he put his finger on it and it was healed. The next day, the older Rebbi Ḥiyya came to him and asked him, how does Rebbi feel, what is with that tooth? He said to him, from the moment that you put your finger on it, it was healed. At that moment, he said, woe on you, lying-in women of the Land of Israel, woe on you, pregnant women of the Land of Israel! He [R. Ḥiyya] said to him, that was not me. From that moment on, he [Rebbi] treated him with honor. When he [Rebbi] went to the assembly hall, he said, may the older Rebbi Ḥiyya come inside. Rebbi Ismael ben Rebbi Yose asked, closer than me? He said, beware! The older Rebbi Ḥiyya inside, and Rebbi Ismael ben Rebbi Yose innermost. Rebbi used to state the praises of the older Rebbi Ḥiyya before Rebbi Ismael ben Rebbi Yose. {Once, he [R. Ismael ben R. Yose] saw him [R. Ḥiyya] in the bathhouse and he did not show him reverence. He [R. Ismael ben R. Yose] said to him [Rebbi], is that the one of whom you state praises? He said, what did he do to you? He said, I saw him in the bathhouse and he did not show me reverence.} He [Rebbi] said to him [R. Ḥiyya], why did you do that? He said to him, so much should come over me if I realized that I was washing myself, at that time my eyes were occupied with the allegorical interpretation of the entire book of Psalms. From that moment on, he [Rebbi] appointed two students to accompany him [R. Ḥiyya] because of the danger.

דְּרִבִּי יָסָא צָם תְּמָנֵיי צוֹמִין לְ[מֵ]חְמֵיי רִבִּי חִיָיה רַבָּה. וּבְסוֹפָא חָמָא דוֹרְגִין דִידֵיהּ וּכְהַן גָנֵי גַבּוֹי. וּכְאָן תֵּימַר. הֲוָה רִבִּי יָסָא בַּר נַשׁ זְעִירָא. חַד גַּדְּלַיי אֲתַא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. חֲמִית בְּחֵילְמִי דִּרְקִיעָא נְפַל וְחַד מִן תַּלְמִידָךְ סְמִיךְ לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. חַכִּים אַתְּ לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. מִן אֲנָא חֲמִי לֵיהּ אֲנָא חַכַּם לֵיהּ. וַעֲבַר כָּל תַּלְמִידוֹי קוֹמוֹי וְחַכַּם לְרִבִּי יָסָה. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ צָם תְּלַת מָאתָן צוֹמִין לְמֵיחְמֵי רִבִּי חִיָיה רוֹבָה וְלָא חָמְתֵיהּ. וּבְסֵיפָא שְׁרֵי מִצְטָעֵר. אֲמַר. מַה הֲוָה לָעֵי בְאוֹרָיְתָא סַגִּין מִינַּיי. אָמְרִין לֵיהּ. רִיבֵּץ תּוֹרָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹתֵר מִמָּךְ. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא דַהֲוָה גְלִי. אֲמַר לוֹן. וַאֲנָא לֹא הֲוִינָא גְלִי. אָמְרִין לֵיהּ. אַתְּ הֲוִיתָא גְלִי מֵילַף. וְהוּא הֲוָה גְלִי מַלְפָּא.

Rebbi Yasa fasted eighty days to see the old Rebbi Ḥiyya. In the end, he saw his bier and him sleeping on it. If you say that Rebbi Assi was an insignificant person, one tanner came to Rebbi Joḥanan and said, I saw the sky falling but one of your students supported it. He asked him, could you recognize him? He said, if I would see him, I would recognize him. He made all his students pass before him [the tanner], and he recognized Rebbi Assi. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish fasted three hundred fasts to see the old Rebbi Ḥiyya but did not see him. In the end, he started to feel badly and said, did he study Torah more than I did? They said to him, he spread Torah more than you did and in addition he went into exile. He said to them, did I not also go into exile? They said to him, you went into exile to study, he went into exile to teach.

כַּד דְּמָךְ רַב הוּנָא רֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא אַסְקוּנֵיהּ לְהָכָא. אָמְרִין אָין אֲנָן יְהָבִין לֵיהּ נֵיהֲבֵיהּ גַּבֵּי רִבִּי חִיָיה דְּהוּא מִן דִּ[ידְ]הוֹן. אָמְרִין. מָאן עֲלִיל יְהַב לֵיהּ תַּמָּן. אָמַר רִבִּי חַגַּיי. אֲנָא עֲלִיל יְהַב לֵיהּ תַּמָּן. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ. עִילָּא אַתְּ בָּעֵי. דְּאַתְּ גְבַר סַב. וְאַתְּ בָּעֵי מֵיעוֹל לָךְ מֵיתַב לְתַמָּן. אֲמַר לוֹן. יָבוּן מְשִׁיחָא בְרִיגְלוֹי וְאִין עֲ[נִי]יַת אַתּוּן גָּרְשִׁין לִי. וְאַשְׁכַּח תְּלַת דָּנִין. יְהוּדָה בְנִי אַחֲרֶיךָ. וְאֵין עוֹד. חִזְקִיָּה בְנִי אַחֲרֶיךָ. וְאֵין עוֹד. אַחֲרֶיךָ יוֹסֵף בֶּן יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאֵין עוֹד. תָּלָה עֵינוֹי מִסְתַּכְּלָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. אַמִּיךְ אַפִּיךְ. אֲמַר רִבִּי חִיָיה רַבָּה יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ. וְפִישׁ לְרַב הוּנָא יְתִיב לֵיהּ. וְלָא קְבִיל עֲלוֹי מָתִיב לֵיהּ. אָמְרִין. כְּמַא דְּלָא קְבִיל עֲלוֹי מָתִיב לֵיהּ כֵּן זַרְעִיָיתֵהּ לָא פְסִיקָא לְעוֹלָם. וְיָצָא מִשָּׁם בֶּן שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְנִכְפְּלוּ לוֹ שָׁנָיו.

When Rav Huna, the Head of the Diaspora, died they brought him here. They said, where shall we put him? They said, let us put him next to Rebbi Ḥiyya the elder for he is one of them. They said, who might want to bring him there? Rebbi Ḥaggai said, I shall go up to put him there. They said to him, you are looking for a pretext, for you are an old man and you want to go to rest there yourself. He said to them, put some string on my feet and when I shall be weak you pull. He went in and found the three arguing. “Jehudah my son, after you, and no more. Ḥizqiah my son, after you, and no more. Joseph ben Israel, after you, and no more.” He [R. Ḥaggai] lifted his eyes to look, it was said to him lower [your eyes], turn around. Rebbi Ḥiyya the elder [who said to] his son Jehudah, make space for Rav Ḥuna that he may rest there. But [Rav Ḥuna] did not accept this. They said, since he did not accept that one made space for him, so his descendants will never end. He [R. Ḥaggai] exited from there eighty years old and his years were doubled.

כְּתִיב וּנְשָׂאתַנִי מִמִּצְרַיִם וּקְבַרְתַּנִי בִּקְבוּרָתָם. יַעֲקֹב כָּל הֶן דְּהוּא מַהוּ מְנַבֵּי. רִבִּי לָעְזָר אָמַר דְּבָרִים בְּגַב. רִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר דְּבָרִים בְּגַב. רִבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר דְּבָרִים בְּגַב. מַהוּ דְּבָרִים בְּגַב. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר. אֶתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי יי בְּאַרְצוֹת הַחַיִּים. וַהֲלֹא אֵין אַרְצוֹת הַחַיִּים אֶלָּא צוֹר וְקֵיסָרִין וַחֲבֵרוֹתֶיהָ. תַּמָּן כּוּלָּה תַּמָּן שָׂבַע. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא. אֶרֶץ שֶׁמֵּתֶיהָ חַיִּים תְּחִילָּה לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. מַה טַעְמָא. נוֹתֵן נְשָׁמָה לְעַם עָלֶיהָ. מֵעַתָּה רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבְּבָבֵל הִפְסִידוּ. אָמַר רִבִּי סִימַאי. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵיהֶן אֶל הָאָרֶץ וְהֵן מִתְגַּלְגְּלִין כְּנוֹדוֹת. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁמַּגִּיעִין לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל נַפְשׁוֹתֵיהֶן עִמָּהֶן. מַה טַעְמָא. וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל אַדְמָתְכֶם וְנָתַתִּי רוּחִי בָּכֶם וִחְייתֶם.

It is written (Gen. 47:30): “You shall carry me from Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” What would Jacob lose at any place he would prophesy? Rebbi Eleazar gave an inner reason, Rebbi Joshua ben Levi gave an inner reason, Rebbi Ḥanina gave an inner reason. What is the inner reason? Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, (Ps. 116:9) “I will walk before the Eternal in the Land of Life.” But the lands of life are only Tyre and its surroundings and Caesarea (maritima) and its surroundings; there is cheap (food), there is plenty. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish in the name of Bar Qappara, the Land whose dead will live again in the days of the Messiah. What is the reason? (Is. 42:9) “He gives soul to the people on it.” That would mean that our teachers in Babylonia would lose out! Rebbi Simai said, the Holy One, praised be He, walks before them and they roll like wine barrels. When they arrive in the Land of Israel their souls are with them. What is the reason? (Ez. 36:24) “I shall bring you to your soil,” (37:14) “give My spirit into you, and you will live.”

רִבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה שָׁאַל לְרִבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ. רִבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ שָׁאַל לְרִבִּי אִימִּי. רִבִּי אִימִּי שָׁאַל לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְרִבִּי חֲנִינָה. וְאִית דְּאָמְרִין. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה שָׁאַל לְרִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. וַאֲפִילוּ כְגוֹן יָרָבְעָם וַחֲבֵירָיו. אָמַר לֵיהּ. גָּפְרִית וָמֶלַח שְׂרֵיפָה כָל אַרְצָהּ. אָמַר רִבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה. מַה הֵין דִּשְׁאִיל לְהוֹן לֹא שְׁמַעִינָן מִינָּהּ כְּלוּם. מָהוּ כְדוֹן. כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּשְׂרְפָה אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל נַעֲשֶׂה בָהֶן מִידַּת הַדִּין. תַּנֵּי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוּדָה. שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים עָשְׂתה אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִשְׂרְפָה. הָדָא הִיא דִּכְתִיב וְהִגְבִּיר בְּרִית לָרַבִּים שָׁבוּעַ אֶחָד. שתים שֶׁבָּהּ מַה הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין. מַטְלִיּוֹת מַטְלִיּוֹת הָיְתָה נִשְׂרֶפֶת.

Rebbi Berekhiah asked Rebbi Ḥelbo. Rebbi Ḥelbo asked Rebbi Immi. Rebbi Immi asked Rebbi Eleazar. Rebbi Eleazar asked Rebbi Ḥanina, some say Rebbi Ḥanina asked Rebbi Joshua: Even those like Jeroboam and his kind? He said to him, (Deut. 29:22) “Sulphur and salt, conflagration throughout the country.” Rebbi Berekhiah said, one asked the other and we understand nothing from it. What does it mean? Since the Land of Israel was burned, judgment was executed on it. We have stated in the name of Rebbi Jehudah: Seven years was the Land of Israel burned; that is what is written (Dan. 9:27) “The Covenant overtook the public for one week.” What did the secondaries in it do? Pieces, pieces and it was burned.

כְּתִיב וְאַתָּה פַּשְׁחוּר וְכֹל יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶךָ תֵּלְכוּ בַּשֶּׁבִי. וּבָבֶל תָבוֹא וְשָׁם תָּמוּת וְשָׁמָּה תִּיקָּבֵר. רִבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר. רִבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ וְרִבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָה. חַד אָמַר. מֵת שָׁם וְנִקְבַּר שָׁם וְיֵשׁ בְּיָדוֹ שְׁתַּיִם. מֵת שָׁם וְנִקְבַּר כָּאן יֵשׁ בְּיָדוֹ אַחַת. וְחָרָנָה אָמַר. קְבוּרָה מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל מִיתָה שֶׁלָּהֶן.

It is written (Jer. 20:6–7): “But you, Pashḥur, and all inhabitants of your house will go into captivity. You will come to Babylon, die there, and be buried there.” Rebbi Abba [bar Zemina] said, Rebbi Ḥelbo and Rebbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina. One of them said, if somebody dies there and is buried there, he has two [detriments] in hand. If he dies there and is buried here, he has one [detriment] in hand. The other one said, burial atones for their death.

רִבִּי יוֹנָה בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא. רִיגְלוֹי דְבַר נַשׁ אִינּוּן מוֹבְלִין יָתֵיהּ כָּל הֶן דְּמִיתְבְּעֵי. כְּתִיב וַיֹּאמֶר יי מִי יְפַתֶּה אֶת אַחְאָב וְיַעַל וְיִפֹּל בְּרָמוֹת גִּלְעַד. וְיָמֹת בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ לֹא תַמָּן. אֱלִיחוֹרֶף וַאֲחִיָּיה תְּרֵין אֵיסֶקְרֵיטוֹרֵי דִשְׁלֹמֹה. חָמָא מַלְאַךְ מוֹתָא מִסְתַּכֵּל בּוֹן וַחֲרוּק בְּשִׁינָּיו. אֲמַר מִילָּה וִיהָבוּן בְּחַלָּלָה. אֲזַל וּנְסַבְּהוֹן מִן תַּמָּן. אֲתָא גָּחִיךְ קָם לֵיהּ קִיבְּלֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ. הַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא הֲוָות אִחְרוֹק בְּשִׁינּוֹי. וּכְדוֹן אַתְּ גָחִיךְ. אָמַר לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לִי רַחֲמָנָא דִּנְסַב לֶאֱלִיחוֹרֶף נַאֲחִיָּה מִן גַּוא חֲלָלָה. וְאָמְרִית. מָאן יְהָב לִי אִלֵּין לְהוֹן דְּשַׁלְּחִית מִינְסְבִינִין וִיהַב בְּלִיבָּךְ לְמֵיעֲבַד כֵּן בְּגִין דְּנַעֲבִיד שְׁלִיחוּת. אֲזִל וְאִיטְפַּל בְּהוֹן מִן תַּמָּן. תְּרֵין בְּנוֹי דְּרִבִּי רְאוּבֶן בַּר אִיסְטְרוֹבִילִיָא תַּלְמִידוֹי דְּרִבִּי. חָמָא מַלְאָךְ מוֹתָא מִסְתַּכֵּל בּוֹן וַחֲרִיק בְּשִׁינּוֹי. אֲמַר. נִיגְלִינוֹן לִדְרוֹמָא. שֶׁמָּא שֶׁהַגָּלוּת מְכַפֶּרֶת. אֲזַל וְנַסְתּוּן מִתַּמָּן.

Rebbi Jonah in the name of Rebbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina: A human’s feet bring him to where he is wanted. It is written (1K. 22:20) “The Eternal said, who will seduce Ahab that he should go and fall in Ramot Gilead?” Might he not die in his house rather than there? Eliḥoref and Aḥiah were two of Solomon’s secretaries. He [Solomon] saw the Angel of Death looking at them and grinding his teeth. He said a word and put them into space. He [the Angel of Death] went and took them from there, then he came laughing before him [Solomon]. He said to him, just before you were grinding your teeth and now you are laughing at us? He said to him, the Merciful told me to take Eliḥoref and Aḥiah from space and I was wondering who would put them there where I was sent to take them; He put it into your mind to do so that I could complete my mission. I went and dealt with them there. The two sons of Rebbi Reuben ben Strobilos were students of Rebbi. He [Rebbi] saw the Angel of Death looking at them and grinding his teeth and said, let us exile them to the South, maybe the exile atones. He [the angel of death] went and took them from there.

עֻללָה נְחוּתָה הֲוָה. אִידְמִיךְ תַּמָּן. שָׁרֵי בְּכִי. אָמְרִין לֵיהּ. מַה לָךְ בְּכִי. אִין מַסְקוּן לָךְ. אֲמַר לוֹן. וּמָה הֲנָיָיה אִית לִי. וַאֲנָא מוֹבַד מַרְגְלִיתִי גַּוא אַרְעָא מְסָאבְתָא. לֹא דָמֵי הַפּוֹלְטָהּ לְחֵיק אִמּוֹ לַפּוֹלְטָהּ בְּחֵיק נָכְרִיָּה. רִבִּי מֵאִיר אִידְמִיךְ בְּאַסְּיָיא. אָמְרִין לִבְנֵי אַרְעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל דִּי דָא מְשִׁיחְכוֹן דִּידְכוֹן. וְאֲפִילוּ כֵן אֵמַר לוֹן. יְהַבוֹן עַרְסִי עַל גֵּיף יַמָּא. דִּכְתִיב כִּי הוּא עַל יַמִּים יְסָדָהּ וְעַל נְהָרוֹת יְכוֹנְנֶהָ.

Ulla was an emigrant. He was dying there and started to cry. They said to him, why are you crying? We shall bring you [to the Land of Israel]. He said to them, how does this help me? I am losing my pearl in an impure land. One cannot compare one who expires in the bosom of his mother to one who expires in the bosom of a strange woman. Rebbi Meïr was dying in Assos. He said, tell the people of the Land of Israel, there is your Messiah. With all that, he said to put his bier on the cape since it is written (Ps. 24:2): “For He founded it on seas, based it on rivers.”

שִׁבְעָה יַמִּים הֵן סוֹבְבִין אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. יַמָּא רַבָּא. יַמָּא דְטִבֵּרִיָא. יַמָּא דְכוכבו. יַמָּא דְמִילְחָא יַמָּא דְחִילָתָא. יַמָּא דְשִׁילְחָת. יַמָּא דְאַיפַּמֵּיָיא. וְיהָא אִיכָּא יַמָּא דְחָמְץ. דִּיֹּקְלֵיטִיָּנוּס הִקְוָוה נְהָרוֹת וַעֲשָׂאוֹ. כְּתִיב וְנִּשְׁקָפָה עַל פְּנֵי הַיְּשִׁימוֹן. אָמַר רִבִּי חִיָיה בַּר בָּא. כָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא עוֹלֶה לְהַר הַיְשִׁימוֹן וְרָאָה כְמִין כְּבָרָה קְטָנָה בְּיַם טִיבֵּרִיָא זוֹ הִיא בְּאֵרָהּ שֶׁל מִרְיָם. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן בַּר מָרָה. שַׁעֲרִינְהוּ רַבָּנִן וְהָא הִיא מְכוּוָּנָא כָּל קֳבֵל תַּרְעָא מְצִיעֲתָא דִכְנִישְׁתָּא עֲתִיקְתָא דְּים דוטגין.

“Seven seas surround the Land of Israel: The ocean, lake Tiberias, lake Samkho, the salt sea, lake Ḥolata, lake Sheliat, lake Apamea.” But does there not also exist the lake of Ḥomṣ? Diocletian dammed up rivers and created it. It is written (Num. 21:20): “Looking down on the desert.” Rebbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said, if one ascends the desert mountain one finds the likeness of a sieve in lake Tiberias, that is the well of Miryam. Rebbi Joḥanan bar Mara said, the rabbis estimated it and it is assessed opposite the middle gate of the old synagogue of Imdvtgyn.

דִּבְרִבִּי בַּר קִירִיָּא וְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הֲווֹן מְטַיְילִין בְּאִיסְטַרִין. רָאוּ אֲרוֹנוֹת שֶׁהֵן בָּאוֹת מֵחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ לָאָרֶץ. אָמַר רִבִּי בַּר קִירִיָּא רִבִּי לָעְזָר. מַה הוֹעִילוּ אֵילּוּ. אֲנִי קוֹרֵא עֲלֵיהֶן נַחֲלָתִי שַׂמְתֶּם לְתוֹעֵבָה בְּחַיֵּיכְם. וַתָּבוֹאוּ וַתְּטַמְּאוּ אֶת אַרְצִי בְּמִיתַתְכֶן. אָמַר לֵיהּ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁמַּגִּיעִין לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין גּוּשׁ עָפָר וּמַנִּיחִין עַל אֲרוֹנָן. דִּכְתִיב וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ.

Rebbi Bar Qiria and Rebbi Eleazar were taking a walk on the road when they saw coffins being brought into the Land from abroad. Rebbi Bar Qiria said to Rebbi Eleazar: What good is that going to do them? I am reading for them (Jer. 2:7) “My inheritance your considered an abomination” during your lifetime, “you came and made My Land impure” in your death. He said to him, when they arrive in the Land, one takes a lump of earth and puts it on the coffin, as it is written (Deut. 32:43) “His earth atones for His people.”