The father of Eliezer acts more magnanimously by his son than does the father of St. Francis.  Like the Rabbi, as Mr. Ruskin relates in his “Mornings in Florence,” St. Francis, one of whose three great virtues was obedience, “begins his spiritual life by quarreling with his father.  He ‘commercially invests’ some of his father’s goods in charity.  His father objects to that investment, on which St. Francis runs away, taking what he can find about the house along with him.  His father follows to claim his property, but finds it is all gone already, and that St. Francis has made friends with the Bishop of Assisi.  His father flies into an indecent passion, and declares he will disinherit him; on which St. Francis, then and there, takes all his clothes off, throws them frantically in his father’s face, and says he has nothing more to do with clothes or father.”

Not the same strict scrutiny is required in money matters as in cases of capital punishment; for it is said (Lev. xxiv. 23), “Ye shall have one manner of law.”  What distinction is there made between them?  With regard to money matters three judges are deemed sufficient, while in cases of capital offense twenty-three are required, etc.

Sanhedrin, fol. 32, col. 1.

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, “In twenty-four cases doth the tribunal excommunicate for the honor of a Rabbi, and all are explained in our Mishna.”  Rabbi Elazer interposed and asked, “Where are they?” The reply was, “Go and seek, and thou shalt find.”  He went accordingly and sought, but found only three—­the case of the man who lightly esteems the washing of hands; of him who whispers evil behind the bier of a disciple of the wise; and of him who behaves haughtily toward the Most High.

Berachoth, fol. 19, col. 1.

There are three degrees of excommunication, i.e., separation, exclusion, and execration.  That mentioned in the above extract is of the lowest degree, and lasts never less than thirty days.  The second degree of excommunication is a prolongation of the first by thirty days more.  The third or highest degree lasts for an indefinite time.  See Moed Katon, fol. 17, col. 1; Shevuoth, fol. 36, col. 1; and consult Index II. appended.

A certain matron once said to Rabbi Yehuda ben Elaei, “Thy face is like that of one who breeds pigs and lends money on usury.”  He replied, “These offices are forbidden me by the rules of my religion, but between my residence and the academy there are twenty-four latrinae; these I regularly visit as I need.”

Berachoth, fol. 55, col. 1.

The Rabbi meant to say that paying attention to the regular action of his excretory organs was the secret of his healthy looks, and to imply that a disordered stomach is the root of most diseases,—­a physiological opinion well worthy of regard by us moderns.

Rav Birim says that the venerable Rav Benaah once went to all the interpreters of dreams in Jerusalem, twenty-four in number.  Every one of them gave a different interpretation, and each was fulfilled; which substantiates the saying that it is the interpretation and not the dream that comes true.