Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

Our Rabbis have taught : "And you will gather your corn" — what has this teaching to tell us ? Since it is written, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth [but you shall meditate therein day and night]" (Josh. i. 8), it is possible to think that these words [are to be understood] as they are written; therefore there is a teaching to say, "And you shall gather in your corn," ie. conduct at the same time a worldly occupation. These are the words of R. Ishmael. R. Simeon b. Johai says : Is it possible for a man to plough at the time of ploughing, sow at seed-time, reap at harvest-time, thresh at the time of threshing, and winnow at the time of wind — what is to become of Torah? But when Israel perform the will of Hashem, their work is done by others; as it is said, "And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks," etc. (Is. Ixi. 5) ; and at the time when Israel perform not the will of the All-present, their work has to be done by themselves ; as it is said, "And your shalt gather in your corn." Not that alone, but the work of others will be done by them ; as it is said, "And you shall serve thine enemy" etc. (Deut. xxviii. 48). Abbai said : Many acted in accord with the teaching of R. Ishmael and it proved efficacious ; but he who acted in accord with R. Simeon b. Johai did not find it so.

(13) Rabbi Yehuda says: Be careful in study, for an error in study is considered an intentional transgression. Rabbi Shimon says: There are three crowns: the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood and the crown of monarchy - but the crown of a good name outweighs them all.

(14) Rabbi Nehorai says: Exile yourself to a place of Torah, and do not say that it will follow after you, that your colleagues will make it yours. Do not rely on your understanding.

Why is Rabbi Yehuda called 'the first of the speakers'? Since Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yose and Rabbi Shimon sat [together], and Rabbi Yehudah ben Gerim sat with them. Rabbi Yehuda opened and said, "How fine are the deeds of [the Roman] nation; they set up markets, they set up bridges, they set up bathhouses." Rabbi Yose was quiet. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai answered and said, "All that they set up, they didn't set up except for their own needs; they set up markets to place prostitutes in them, bathhouses to pamper themselves, bridges to take taxes from them." Rabbi Yehudah ben Gerim went and told over their words and they were heard by the government. [The government officials] said, "Yehuda that elevated [us] should be elevated, Yose that was quiet should be exiled to Tsippori, Shimon that disgraced [us] should be killed." He and his son went [and] hid in the study hall. Every day, his wife would bring them bread and a container of water and they ate. When the decree became more pronounced, he said to his son, "Women have weak resolve; maybe [the Romans] will distress her and she will reveal [our location]." They went and hid in a cave. A miracle occurred [and] a carob tree and a spring of water were created for them. And they would take off their clothes and would sit up to their necks in sand; the whole day they would study; at the time of prayers they would get dressed, cover themselves and pray; and [then] they would go back and take off their clothes so that they would not get worn out. They sat for twelve years in the cave. Eliyahu came and stood at the entrance of the cave [and] said, "Who will inform Bar Yochai that the Caeser has died and that his decree has been annulled?" They came out; they saw people that were plowing and planting. [Rabbi Shimon] said, "They are leaving over eternal life and involving themselves with temporary life." Every place upon which they would set their eyes would immediately burn. A Heavenly voice came out and said to them, "Did you come out [of the cave] to destroy my world? Go back to your cave!" They returned and went [back]; they sat for twelve months of a year; they [then] said, "the judgment of the wicked is twelve months in Gehinnom." A Heavenly voice came out and said, "Go out from your cave." They came out [again]. Every place that Rabbi Eliezer would strike, Rabbi Shimon would heal. He said to him, “My son, you and I are enough for the world.” As the [sun was setting] on the eve of Shabbat, they saw an old man holding two bundles of hadassim and running at twilight. They said to him, "What are these to you?" He said to them, "For the honor of the Shabbat." [They said back,] "Would one not suffice for you?" [He responded,] "One corresponding to (Exodus 20:7), 'Remember' and one corresponding to (Deuteronomy 5:11) 'Guard.'" [Rabbi Shimon] said to his son, "See, how beloved the commandments are to Israel." [And so] their minds were put at ease.