Star Wars & Judaism X: The Last Jedi

One day, Rabbi Yoḥanan was bathing in the Jordan River. Reish Lakish saw him and jumped into the Jordan, pursuing him. He said to Reish Lakish: "Your strength is fit for Torah study."

Reish Lakish said to him: "Your beauty is fit for women."

Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: "If you return to the pursuit of Torah, I will give you my sister in marriage, who is more beautiful than I am."

Reish Lakish accepted upon himself to study Torah. Subsequently, Reish Lakish wanted to jump back out of the river to bring back his clothes, but he was unable to return.

Rabbi Yoḥanan taught Reish Lakish Bible, and taught him Mishna, and turned him into a great man.

It was taught: Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says from the name of Ḥilfa bar Agra, who said from the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Nuri: "One who rends his garments in his anger, or who breaks his vessels in his anger, or who scatters his money in his anger, should be like an idol worshipper in your eyes, as that is the craft of the evil inclination. Today it tells him do this, and tomorrow it tells him do that, until eventually, when he no longer controls himself, it tells him worship idols and he goes and worships idols."

(2) If a cow gave birth to a species of donkey, or a donkey gave birth to a species of horse, it is exempt from [the law of] the firstling, for it is said, “the firstling of a donkey,” “the firstling of a donkey,” twice [to teach that the law of the firstling does not apply] until that which gives birth is a donkey and that which is born is a donkey. And what is the law with regard to eating them? If a clean animal gave birth to a species of unclean animal, it is permitted to be eaten. But if an unclean animal gave birth to a species of a clean animal, it is forbidden to be eaten, for that which comes out of the unclean is unclean and that which comes out of the clean is clean. If an unclean fish swallowed a clean fish, it is permitted to be eaten. But if a clean fish has swallowed an unclean fish, the latter is forbidden to be eaten, because it is not [the clean fish's] growth.

Joshua ben Perahiah used to say: "Make a teacher for you, acquire a friend for yourself, and judge everyone with the scale weighted on the favorable side."

And these are they which are not qualified [to be witnesses or judges]: A dice player, a usurer, pigeon racers, or traffickers in Seventh Year produce.

one who plays with dice for money, what is he doing that disqualifies him from bearing witness?

Rami bar Ḥama says: He is disqualified because gambling is a transaction with inconclusive consent [asmakhta], as one who gambles does not have conclusive consent to pay when he loses since he plays under the assumption that he will win. And as an asmakhta does not effect acquisition, the one who wins takes money that is not legally his, and is considered a robber.

Rav Sheshet says: "Any case like this is not an asmakhta. In a game of dice both sides realize that they might lose, and consent at the outset to pay if that happens. Rather, those who play dice are disqualified because they are not involved in settling the world, i.e., in productive occupations that demand hard work. Since they do not realize the effort required of most people to earn a living they might not be scrupulous about other people’s money, and their testimony cannot be relied upon."

And Rabbi Yitzḥak said: "A man is judged only according to his deeds at the time, as it is stated, 'For God has heard the voice of the lad where he is' (Genesis 21:17)."

The Sages taught: Priests are not allowed to ascend with their sandals to the platform. And this is one of the nine ordinances that Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai instituted.

Rava said: "How foolish are the rest of the people who stand before a Torah scroll, and yet they do not stand before a great man; as in a Torah scroll, forty is written and the Sages came and subtracted one."

Shmuel underwent bloodletting, they broke for him a wooden armchair made of teak [shaga] to build a fire.

For Rav Yehudah, they broke a wooden table made of ebony [yavna], and for Rabba they broke a bench.

And Abaye said to Rabba: "Didn’t the Master violate the prohibition, 'Do not destroy' (Deuteronomy 20:19)?"

He said to him: "Do not destroy of my body is preferable to me."

Abaye...went and leaned against the doorpost, and feeling regret.

A certain Elder came and taught him: "Anyone who is greater than another, his evil inclination is greater than his."

It was taught: On that day, Rabbi Eliezer answered all answers in the world, but the Rabbis did not accept from him. He said to them: "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, this carob tree will prove it."

The carob tree was uprooted from its place one hundred cubits, and some say four hundred cubits.

The Rabbis said to him: "One does not cite halakhic proof from the carob tree."

Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the stream will prove it."

The water in the stream turned backward and began flowing in the opposite direction.

They said to him: "One does not cite halakhic proof from a stream."

Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the walls of the study hall will prove it."

The walls of the study hall leaned inward and began to fall.

Rabbi Yehoshua scolded the walls and said to them: "If Torah scholars are contending with each other in matters of halakha, what is the nature of your involvement in this dispute?"

They did not fall because of the deference due Rabbi Yehoshua, but they did not straighten because of the deference due Rabbi Eliezer, and they still remain leaning.

Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: "If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, Heaven will prove it."

A Divine Voice emerged from Heaven and said: "Why are you differing with Rabbi Eliezer, as the halakha is in accordance with his opinion in every place that he expresses an opinion?"

Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: It is written: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12).

It was taught: When Rabbi Eliezer took ill, Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues came to visit him. He was sitting on his canopied bed, and they were sitting in his parlor; ...Moreover, I can teach three hundred halakhot, and some say that Rabbi Eliezer said three thousand halakhot, with regard to the planting of cucumbers by sorcery, but no person has ever asked me anything about them, besides Akiva ben Yosef. Once he and I were walking along the way, and he said to me: My teacher, teach me about the planting of cucumbers. I said one statement of sorcery, and the entire field became filled with cucumbers. He said to me: My teacher, you have taught me about planting them; teach me about uprooting them. I said one statement and they all were gathered to one place. ...