The two argued about whether it was possible to anger Hillel.
- I’ll drive him out of patience! - said one.
They made a bet of four hundred zuz.
It was on the eve of Saturday. Hillel was about to go swimming at that time. The man went and, passing by the doors of Hillel, began to shout out:
-Who is Hillel here? Who is Hillel here?
Hillel got dressed and went out to him:
- What do you want, my son?
— I want to ask you one question.
- Ask, my son, ask.
Why do the Babylonians have irregularly shaped heads?
“My son,” said Hillel, “you asked me an important question because the Babylonians do not have good midwives.”
That person left. But after a while he returned and again began shouting:
-Who is Hillel here? Who is Hillel here?
Hillel got dressed and went out to him and asked:
- What do you want, my son?
— I want to ask you one question.
- Ask, my son, ask.
- Why do the Tarmudans have sore eyes?
“You asked me an important question, my son, probably because they live in sandy areas.”
That man left, but soon returned and let’s shout again:
-Who is Hillel here? Who is Hillel here?
Hillel got dressed and went out to him:
- What do you want, my son?
— I want to ask you one question.
- Ask, my son, ask.
— Why do Aprakians have wide feet?
“You asked me an important question, my son, because they live among the swamps.”
“I have many more questions, but I’m afraid to anger you.”
Hillel put on his clothes, sat down and said:
-Ask whatever you want.
“Are you the Hillel who is called the Prince of Israel?”
- Yes.
“Let there not be many like you in Israel!”
- Why, my son?
“Because because of you I lost four hundred zuz.”
- Be more careful in future. You will lose four hundred zuz more than once, and you will not be able to anger Hillel.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru