Go away now and come again tomorrow. During the night he sent and had his own tree cut down. On the next day the man came back and he told him to go and cut the tree down. He said: But you, Sir, also have one? He replied: Go and see. If mine is cut down, cut yours down, and if mine is not cut down you need not cut yours down. What was R. Jannai's idea at first [when he kept his tree] and afterwards [when he had it cut down]? — At first he thought that passers-by were glad of it because they could sit in its shade, but when he saw that they objected to it he had it cut down. Why did he not say to the man, Go and cut yours down and then I will cut down mine? — In conformity with the maxim of Resh Lakish, who said: [It is written], <i>Hithkosheshu wakoshu</i>:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Zeph. II, 1. The English version translates, 'Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together.' Resh Lakish, however, derives it from the word kash, stubble, and translates, 'Remove the stubble from between your own eyes, and afterwards remove it from others.'
');"><sup>1</sup></span>
Tosefta Sotah
Rabbi Ishmael said: From the day that the Temple was destroyed, it would be appropriate that we not eat meat or drink wine (since these were used in the Temple service). But a court does not decree (restrictions) on the community which they cannot uphold. He would say that since they (the Romans) decree upon us that we not learn Torah, we should decree upon the community that they not marry women (since they do not know marriage and family laws), and not have children - and as a consequence, the seed of Abraham will cease. Rather, leave Israel alone (to continue to do as they now do, marrying and having families); it is better that (if they transgress), they do so inadvertently and not intentionally.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Tosefta Sotah
Rabbi Ishmael said: From the day that the Temple was destroyed, it would be appropriate that we not eat meat or drink wine (since these were used in the Temple service). But a court does not decree (restrictions) on the community which they cannot uphold. He would say that since they (the Romans) decree upon us that we not learn Torah, we should decree upon the community that they not marry women (since they do not know marriage and family laws), and not have children - and as a consequence, the seed of Abraham will cease. Rather, leave Israel alone (to continue to do as they now do, marrying and having families); it is better that (if they transgress), they do so inadvertently and not intentionally.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Tosefta Sotah
Rabbi Ishmael said: From the day that the Temple was destroyed, it would be appropriate that we not eat meat or drink wine (since these were used in the Temple service). But a court does not decree (restrictions) on the community which they cannot uphold. He would say that since they (the Romans) decree upon us that we not learn Torah, we should decree upon the community that they not marry women (since they do not know marriage and family laws), and not have children - and as a consequence, the seed of Abraham will cease. Rather, leave Israel alone (to continue to do as they now do, marrying and having families); it is better that (if they transgress), they do so inadvertently and not intentionally.
