or a short coat, or neglect to wear a girdle.  He would at once lose caste and be subjected to persecution, direct or indirect, were he to depart from a custom.  Custom is law, is an oft-quoted Jewish proverb, one among the most familiar of their household words, as “Custom is a tyrant,” is among ours.  Another saying we have is, “Custom is the plague of wise men, but is the idol of fools.”

The following anecdotes are related by way of practically illustrating Ps. ii. 11, “Rejoice with trembling.”  Mar, the son of Ravina, made a grand marriage-feast for his son, and when the Rabbis were at the height of their merriment on the occasion, he brought in a very costly cup, worth four hundred zouzim, and broke it before them, and this occasioned them sorrow and trembling.  Rav Ashi made a grand marriage-feast for his son, and when he noticed the Rabbis in high jubilation, he brought in a costly cup of white glass and broke it before them, and this made them sorrowful.  The Rabbis challenged Rav Hamnunah on the wedding of his son Ravina, saying, “Give us a song, sir,” and he sung, “Woe be to us, for we must die!  Woe be to us, for we must die!” “And what shall we sing?” they asked in chorus by way of response.  He replied, “Sing ye, ’Alas! where is the law we have studied? where the good works we have done? that they may protect us from the punishment of hell!’” Rabbi Yochanan, in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, says, “It is unlawful for a man to fill his mouth with laughter in this world, for it is said in Ps. cxxvi., ‘Then (but not now) will our mouth be filled with laughter,’” etc.  It is related of Resh Lakish that he never once laughed again all the rest of his life from the time that he heard this from Rabbi Yochanan, his teacher.

Berachoth, fol. 30, col. 2, and fol. 31, col. 1.

A man once laid a wager with another that he would put Hillel out of temper.  If he succeeded he was to receive, but if he failed he was to forfeit, four hundred zouzim.  It was close upon Sabbath-eve, and Hillel was washing himself, when the man passed by his door, shouting, “Where is Hillel? where is Hillel?” Hillel wrapped his mantle round him and sallied forth to see what the man wanted.  “I want to ask thee a question,” was the reply.  “Ask on, my son,” said Hillel.  Whereupon the man said, “I want to know why the Babylonians have such round heads?” “A very important question, my son,” said Hillel; “the reason is because their midwives are not clever.”  The man went away, but after an hour he returned, calling out as before, “Where is Hillel? where is Hillel?” Hillel again threw on his mantle and went out, meekly asking, “What now, my son?” “I want to know,” said he, “why the people of Tadmor are weak-eyed?” Hillel replied, “This is an important question, my son, and the reason is this, they live in a sandy country.”  Away went the man, but in another hour’s time he returned as before, crying out, “Where is Hillel? where is Hillel?” Out