כג <big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> ואין לוקחין ספרים תפילין ומזוזות מן העובדי כוכבים יותר על כדי דמיהן
23 <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. The question was raised: Does this prevention of abuses relate to the burden which may be imposed on the community or to the possibility that the activities [of the bandits] may be stimulated? — Come and hear: Levi b. Darga ransomed his daughter for thirteen thousand <i>denarii</i> of gold.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This shows that if an individual is willing to pay more he may do so, and the reason is because of the burden imposed on the community. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> Said Abaye: But are you sure that he acted with the consent of the Sages? perhaps he acted against the will of the Sages. CAPTIVES SHOULD NOT BE HELPED TO ESCAPE, TO PREVENT ABUSES. RABBAN SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAYS, THE REASON IS TO PREVENT THE ILL-TREATMENT OF FELLOW CAPTIVES. What practical difference does it make which reason we adopt? — The difference arises where there is only one captive.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In this case the reason of Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel does not apply, and according to him the captive may be helped to escape. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> The daughters of R. Nahman used to stir a cauldron with their hands when it was boiling hot.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Without scalding their hands, apparently on account of their piety. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> R. 'Ilish was puzzled about it. It is written [he said], One man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Eccl. VII, 28. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> and here are the daughters of R. Nahman!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who apparently are righteous. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> A misfortune happened to them and they were carried away captive, and he also with them. One day a man was sitting next to him who understood the language of birds. A raven came and called to him, and R. 'Ilish said to him, What does it say? It says, he replied, "'Ilish, run away, 'Ilish, run away". He said, The raven is a false bird, and I do not trust it. Then a dove came and called. He again asked, What does it say? It says, the man replied, "'Ilish, run away, 'Ilish run, away." Said ['Ilish]: The community of Israel is likened to a dove;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' E.g., in the verse, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled (Cant. V, 2). ');"><sup>24</sup></span> this shows that a miracle will be performed for me. He then [said to himself], I will go and see the daughters of R. Nahman; if they have retained their virtue, I will bring them back. Said he to himself: Women talk over their business in the privy. He overheard them saying, These men are [our] husbands just as the Nehardeans [were] our husbands. Let us tell our captors to remove us to a distance from here, so that our husbands may not come and hear [where we are] and ransom us. R. 'Ilish then rose and fled, along with the other man. A miracle was performed for him, and he got across the river,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'the ferry'. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> but the other man was caught and put to death. When the daughters of R. Nahman came back, he said, They stirred the cauldron by witchcraft. <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. NEITHER SHOULD SCROLLS OF THE LAW, PHYLACTERIES AND MEZUZOTH<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> BE BOUGHT FROM HEATHENS AT MORE THAN THEIR VALUE,