Reference for Sanhedrin 135:13
<br><br><big><strong>הדרן עלך ארבע מיתות</strong></big><br><br>
He replied, 'It is clean;' and in pronouncing this word his soul departed. Then R. Joshua arose and exclaimed, 'The vow is annulled, the vow is annulled!'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the ban is now lifted from him. This declaration was made on account of the funeral, for had it not been annulled, a stone would have been placed upon his coffin. v. 'Ed. V, 6. ');"><sup>13</sup></span> On the conclusion of the Sabbath R. Akiba met his bier being carried from Caesarea to Lydda. [In his grief] he beat his flesh until the blood flowed down upon the earth — Then R. Akiba commenced his funeral address, the mourners being lined up about the coffin, and said: 'My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Kings II, 12. ');"><sup>14</sup></span> I have many coins, but no money changer to accept them.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., I have many questions on Torah, but no one to answer them. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> Thus from this story we see that he learned this [sc. the producing of cucumbers by magic] from R. Eliezer? — He learned it from R. Eliezer, but did not grasp it, then he learned it from R. Joshua, who made it clear to him. But how might R. Eliezer do so?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cause cucumbers to grow by magic. ');"><sup>16</sup></span> Did we not learn, IF HE ACTUALLY PERFORMS MAGIC, HE IS LIABLE? — If it is only to teach, it is different. For it has been said, Thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of these nations:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XVIII, 9. This introduces the prohibitions of necromancy and witchcraft. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> thou mayest not learn in order to practise, but thou mayest learn in order to understand.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Eliezer's action was likewise merely in order to teach. ');"><sup>18</sup></span>