A Parable: The Man with a Fine Beard
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This parable is quite short and, by itself, rather uninteresting. However, the background situation and Rabbi Ishmael’s response to the parable set the stage for a lesson in wisdom. The translation by McArthur and Johnston is given below along with the original in Hebrew. (My goal is to learn a little more of the Hebrew of these parables, when available, and become a little more familiar with the Talmud). I have broken up the text in such a way that will be easier to see some of its structure. After the parable, I will make a few comments.
R. Ekazar b. Azariah; ca. 80; B. Berakoth lla
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וקורין ומעשה ברבי ישמעאל ור’ אלעזר בן עזריה שהיו מסובין במקום אחד והיה ר’ ישמעאל מוטה ור’ אלעזר בן עזריה זקוף
כיון שהגיע זמן קריאת שמע הטה רבי אלעזר וזקף ר’ ישמעאל אמר לו רבי אלעזר בן עזריה לר’ ישמעאל ישמעאל אחי אמשול לך משל למה הדבר דומה משל לאחד שאומרים לו זקנך מגודל אמר להם יהיה כנגד המשחיתים אף כך אתה כל זמן שאני זקוף אתה מוטה עכשיו כשאני הטתי אתה זקפת אמר לו אני עשיתי כדברי ב”ה ואתה עשית כדברי ב”ש ולא עוד אלא שמא יראו התלמידים ויקבעו הלכה לדורות |
Once R. Ishmael and R. Eleazar b. Azariah were dining at the same place, and R. Ishmael was reclining while R. Eleazar was standing upright.
When the time came for reciting the Shema, R. Eleazar reclined, and R. Ishmael stood upright. Said R. Eleazar b. Azariah to R. Ishmael: Brother Ishmael, I will parable you a parable. Unto what is the matter like? A parable. It is like one to whom people say: You have a fine beard. And he says: Let this go to meet the destroyers. [By these words the man rejects the compliment.] So with you. As long as I was upright, you were reclining, and now that I recline, you stand upright! He replied: I have acted according to the rule of Beth Hillel, and you have acted according to the rule of Beth Shammai. And what is more (I had to act thus), lest the disciples should see and fix the halakah so for future generations! |
