found out that he was a Jew, they at once re-enacted the decrees they had canceled.  Upon this the question arose who should go to Rome and appeal against these enactments.  It was resolved that Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, who was reputed experienced in miracles, should go, accompanied by Rabbi Elazar, the son of Rabbi Yossi....  As they journeyed along, the question was proposed to them, “Whence is it proved that the blood of a reptile is unclean?” Rabbi Elazar replied with a curl of the lip, and quoted Lev. ii. 29.  “And these shall be unclean unto you.”  Rabbi Shimon said unto him, “By the curl of thy lip art thou recognizable as a disciple of the wise!  May the son never return to his father!” for he was annoyed that he should presume to teach a Halachah in his presence, and then and there he condemned him to death. (See Berachoth, fol. 31, col. 2.) Thereupon Ben Temalion (an evil sprite or imp) came, and greeting him, said, “Do ye wish me to accompany you?” Rabbi Shimon wept and said, “Alas! a maid-servant of my ancestor (Abraham) was assisted by three angels, and I have not one to attend me!  However, let a miracle be worked for us anyhow.”  Then the evil spirit entered into the Emperor’s daughter, and when the Rabbi was called in to cure the princess, he exorcised the spirit by saying, “Depart, Ben Temalion!  Ben Temalion, depart!” and the evil spirit left her.  By way of reward the Rabbis were bidden to ask whatsoever they pleased, and admitted into the imperial treasury that they might choose what seemed good to them.  Espying there the edict against Israel, they chose it, and tore it to pieces.

Meyilah, fol. 17, col. 1, 2.

At the time when the high priest enters to worship, three acolytes take hold of him, one by the right hand and another by the left, while the third lifts the gems attached to the train of his pontifical vestment.

Tamid, chap. 7; Mishna, 1.

“I once, when a grave-digger,” says Abba Shaul, as the Rabbis relate, “chased a roe which had entered the shinbone of a dead man; and though I ran three miles after it, I could not overtake it, nor reach the end of the bone.  When I returned, I was told that it was a bone of Og, king of Bashan.”

Niddah, fol. 24, col. 2.

The Rabbis have taught that during the first three months (of pregnancy) the child lies in the lower part (of the uterus); during the next three it occupies the middle part; and during the last three it is in the upper part; and that when the time of parturition comes, it turns over first, and this causes the birth-pains.  We are also taught that the pains caused by a female child are greater than those caused by a male.  Rabbi Elazar said, “What Scripture is there for this?  ’When I was made in secret and curiously wrought, in the lowest parts of the earth’ (Ps. cxxxix. 15).  It is not said, ‘I abode,’ but, ‘I was curiously wrought.’  Why the difference?  Why are the pains caused by a girl greater than those caused by a boy?”