Year: 1879

burned, smoke issued from his nostrils,
and fire proceeded from his mouth, as he
exclaimed in terrible voice:
This impudent man shall be put to
| DEATH"


In moment [ was surrounded by
executioners, who threw me into this un-
derground prison, where am gladly and
joyfully awaiting death, for desire to
show the children of my people how an
lsraelite should love his God with all
his heart, with all his soul, and with all
his might; and how he should believe
with all his faith that the Lord our God
is one God the God of all spirits, for
whose glory we live and for whose glory
we die. Now has the prophecy been full
filled that was prophesied of me by Rab-
bi Eliezer b. Hyrkenos, that would suf-
fer a very cruel death from the hands of
tyrants.'


Why and wherefore did he predict
for you such mournful end?" asked
the disciples, who were listening to him
attentively, when Rabbi Akiba answered
thus:


At the time when the garden of the
Lord was yet blooming in Yabna, there
existed difference of opinion among
lsraels sages as to the decision of one
legal question; finally all the sages ar
rived at one opinion, and Rabbi Eliezer
was the only one that was not satisfied
with the decision, and insisted upon
maintaining the contrary opinion on this
question. His father-in-law, Raban
Gamliel Hanassi, decided that the law
was according to the decision of the ma
jority, when Rabbi Eliezer replied:


Let this tree prove that am right"
In moment the tree left its place.
and planted its roots in a6other spot.
l5,atal1 llssa


What have We to dowith the tree !?
The Law was not given as an inherit
ance to it, but to US


Inen RabDl ElleZer said:


Let the waters of this spring demon
strate that my mouth spoke the truth"


Instantly the waters of the spring
changed their course, and flowed back
wards, but the sages again replied


The waters of this spring can not
control our opinions p


Ii this is the case, said Rabbi Ellie
zer again, if this is the case, then let
the walls Of this Seminary prove that
my decision is correct p In moment
the walls of the Seminary bent and were
going to fall, when Rabbi Yeshua arose
and angrily shouted to the walls


What have you to do with us, that
you interfere in dispute that does not
concern you ?"


The walls did not fall to the ground, in
order to give honor to Rabbi Yeshua,
but neither did they return to their
original position, because of the respect
of Rabbi Eliezer, and as you have seen
with your own eyes, they are still bent
to this day. But Rabbi Eliezer was
anxious to vindicate the majesty of truth,
and thinking that his opinion was right,
he became angry, and called to the high
heavens, saying


" Let them decide from the heavens
whether | am right in my decision !"


In a moment the Bath-kol (Voice
exclaimed from heaven:


''What do you sages of Israel want
with Rabbi Eliezer? The law is always
according to his opinion p


Rabbi Yeshua arose again and said


We pay no attention to the Bath
kol, for Gods holy word declares that
we should abide by the decision of the
majority, and what more do we want p


The law was recorded as the majority
of rabbis had decided, and this ended the
dispute but Rabbi Eliezer became an
cry, and would not attend the Seminary
any more When the Sages OF Israel
saw that Rabbi Eliezer continued to diff
fer with them in point which was one
of the fundamental principles Of religion,