While R. was alive. Jochanan ben Zakkai and all five disciples remained with him. After his death, they moved to Jamnia, with the exception of Elazar ben Arach, who returned to his wife, who lived in an area rich in springs and vegetation. He hoped that his comrades would come to him, and after vain expectations he decided to go to them himself. But the wife opposed this, saying:
- Who needs whom?
- They are in me.
- So: leather fur and mice - who usually goes to whom? Mice for fur or fur for mice?
I listened to R. Elazar stayed at home until he forgot everything he had learned.
After a certain time, his comrades appeared and began to ask him scientific questions. But Elazar no longer knew how to answer them.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru