## Sanhedrin Daf 68a

###### Sanhedrin 68a:1
[Sanhedrin 68a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:1)

וְהָא רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מֵרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ גְּמִיר לַהּ? וְהָתַנְיָא: כְּשֶׁחָלָה רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, נִכְנְסוּ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא וַחֲבֵירָיו לְבַקְּרוֹ. הוּא יוֹשֵׁב בְּקִינוֹף שֶׁלּוֹ, וְהֵן יוֹשְׁבִין בִּטְרַקְלִין שֶׁלּוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And did Rabbi Akiva learn** these *halakhot* **from Rabbi Yehoshua? But isn’t it taught** in a *baraita*: **When Rabbi Eliezer took ill, Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues came to visit him. He was sitting on his canopied bed [*bekinof* ], and they were sitting in his parlor [*biteraklin*];** they did not know if he would be able to receive them, due to his illness.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:2
[Sanhedrin 68a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:2)

וְאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת הָיָה, וְנִכְנַס הוּרְקָנוֹס בְּנוֹ לַחְלוֹץ תְּפִלָּיו. גָּעַר בּוֹ וְיָצָא בִּנְזִיפָה. אָמַר לָהֶן לַחֲבֵירָיו: כִּמְדוּמֶּה אֲנִי שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל אַבָּא נִטְרְפָה. אָמַר לָהֶן: דַּעְתּוֹ וְדַעַת אִמּוֹ נִטְרְפָה! הֵיאַךְ מַנִּיחִין אִיסּוּר סְקִילָה וְעוֹסְקִין בְּאִיסּוּר שְׁבוּת?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And that day was Shabbat eve, and** Rabbi Eliezer’s **son Hyrcanus entered to remove his phylacteries,** as phylacteries are not worn on Shabbat. His father **berated him, and he left reprimanded.** Hyrcanus **said to his** father’s **colleagues: It appears to me that father went insane,** since he berated me for no reason. Rabbi Eliezer heard this and **said to them: He,** Hyrcanus, **and his mother went insane. How can they neglect** Shabbat preparations with regard to **prohibitions** punishable by **stoning,** such as lighting the candles and preparing hot food, **and engage in** preparations concerning **prohibitions by rabbinic decree,** such as wearing phylacteries on Shabbat?


###### Sanhedrin 68a:3
[Sanhedrin 68a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:3)

כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ מְיוּשֶּׁבֶת עָלָיו, נִכְנְסוּ וְיָשְׁבוּ לְפָנָיו מֵרָחוֹק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Since the Sages perceived** from this retort **that his mind was stable, they entered and sat before him at a distance of four cubits,** as he was ostracized (see *Bava Metzia* 59b). It is forbidden to sit within four cubits of an ostracized person.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:4
[Sanhedrin 68a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:4)

אָמַר לָהֶם: לָמָּה בָּאתֶם? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: לִלְמוֹד תּוֹרָה בָּאנוּ. אָמַר לָהֶם: וְעַד עַכְשָׁיו לָמָּה לֹא בָּאתֶם? אָמְרוּ לוֹ: לֹא הָיָה לָנוּ פְּנַאי. אָמַר לָהֶן: תָּמֵיהַּ אֲנִי אִם יָמוּתוּ מִיתַת עַצְמָן. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: שֶׁלִּי מַהוּ? אָמַר לוֹ: שֶׁלְּךָ קָשָׁה מִשֶּׁלָּהֶן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Eliezer **said to them: Why have you come? They said to him: We have come to study Torah,** as they did not want to say that they came to visit him due to his illness. Rabbi Eliezer **said to them: And why have you not come until now? They said to him: We did not have spare time.** Rabbi Eliezer **said to them: I would be surprised if these** Sages **die their own death,** i.e., a natural death. Rather, they will be tortured to death by the Romans. **Rabbi Akiva said to him: How will my** death come about? Rabbi Eliezer **said to him: Your** death will be **worse than theirs,** as you were my primary student and you did not come to study.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:5
[Sanhedrin 68a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:5)

נָטַל שְׁתֵּי זְרוֹעוֹתָיו וְהִנִּיחָן עַל לִבּוֹ, אָמַר: אוֹי לָכֶם שְׁתֵּי זְרוֹעוֹתַיי, שֶׁהֵן כִּשְׁתֵּי סִפְרֵי תוֹרָה שֶׁנִּגְלָלִין! הַרְבֵּה תּוֹרָה לָמַדְתִּי, וְהַרְבֵּה תּוֹרָה לִימַּדְתִּי. הַרְבֵּה תּוֹרָה לָמַדְתִּי, וְלֹא חִסַּרְתִּי מֵרַבּוֹתַי אֲפִילּוּ כַּכֶּלֶב הַמְּלַקֵּק מִן הַיָּם. הַרְבֵּה תּוֹרָה לִימַּדְתִּי, וְלֹא חִסְּרוּנִי תַּלְמִידַי אֶלָּא כְּמִכְחוֹל בִּשְׁפוֹפֶרֶת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Eliezer **raised his two arms and placed them on his heart,** and he **said: Woe to you, my two arms, as they are like two Torah scrolls that are** now **being rolled up,** and will never be opened again. **I have learned much Torah, and I have taught much Torah. I have learned much Torah, and I have not taken away from my teachers,** i.e., I have not received from their wisdom, **even like a dog lapping from the sea. I have taught much Torah, and my students have taken away from me,** i.e., they have received from my wisdom, **only like** the tiny amount that **a paintbrush** removes **from a tube** of paint.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:6
[Sanhedrin 68a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:6)

וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֲנִי שׁוֹנֶה שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת הֲלָכוֹת בְּבַהֶרֶת עַזָּה, וְלֹא הָיָה אָדָם שׁוֹאֲלֵנִי בָּהֶן דָּבָר מֵעוֹלָם. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא שֶׁאֲנִי שׁוֹנֶה שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת הֲלָכוֹת, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: שְׁלֹשֶׁת אֲלָפִים הֲלָכוֹת, בִּנְטִיעַת קִשּׁוּאִין, וְלֹא הָיָה אָדָם שׁוֹאֲלֵנִי בָּהֶן דָּבָר מֵעוֹלָם, חוּץ מֵעֲקִיבָא בֶּן יוֹסֵף.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Moreover, I can teach three hundred *halakhot* with regard to a snow-white leprous mark [*bebaheret*], but no person has ever asked me anything about them.** He could not find a student who could fully understand him in those matters. **Moreover, I can teach three hundred *halakhot*, and some say** that Rabbi Eliezer said **three thousand *halakhot*, with regard to the planting of cucumbers** by sorcery, **but no person has ever asked me anything about them, besides Akiva ben Yosef.**


###### Sanhedrin 68a:7
[Sanhedrin 68a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:7)

פַּעַם אַחַת אֲנִי וָהוּא מְהַלְּכִין הָיִינוּ בַּדֶּרֶךְ, אָמַר לִי: רַבִּי, לַמְּדֵנִי בִּנְטִיעַת קִשּׁוּאִין. אָמַרְתִּי דָּבָר אֶחָד, נִתְמַלְּאָה כׇּל הַשָּׂדֶה קִשּׁוּאִין. אֲמַר לִי: רַבִּי, לִמַּדְתַּנִי נְטִיעָתָן, לַמְּדֵנִי עֲקִירָתָן. אָמַרְתִּי דָּבָר אֶחָד, נִתְקַבְּצוּ כּוּלָּן לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Eliezer described the incident: **Once he and I were walking along the way,** and **he said to me: My teacher, teach me about the planting of cucumbers. I said one statement** of sorcery, and **the entire field became filled with cucumbers. He said to me: My teacher, you have taught me** about **planting them; teach me** about **uprooting them. I said one statement and they all were gathered to one place.**


###### Sanhedrin 68a:8
[Sanhedrin 68a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:8)

אָמְרוּ לוֹ: הַכַּדּוּר וְהָאִמּוּם וְהַקָּמֵיעַ וּצְרוֹר הַמַּרְגָּלִיּוֹת וּמִשְׁקוֹלֶת קְטַנָּה, מַהוּ? אָמַר לָהֶן: הֵן טְמֵאִין, וְטַהֲרָתָן בְּמָה שֶׁהֵן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
After these comments, the Sages **asked him** questions of *halakha*: **What is** the *halakha*, with regard to ritual impurity, of **a ball** made of leather and stuffed with rags, **and** likewise **a last,** the frame on which a shoe is fashioned, which is made of leather and stuffed with rags, **and** likewise **an amulet** wrapped in leather, **and a pouch for pearls,** wrapped in leather, **and a small weight,** which is wrapped in leather? Rabbi Eliezer **said to them: They are susceptible to impurity, and their purification is** effected by immersing them in a ritual bath **as they are,** as there is no need to open them up.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:9
[Sanhedrin 68a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:9)

מִנְעָל שֶׁעַל גַּבֵּי הָאִמּוּם, מַהוּ? אָמַר לָהֶן: הוּא טָהוֹר, וְיָצְאָה נִשְׁמָתוֹ בְּטׇהֳרָה. עָמַד רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: הוּתַּר הַנֶּדֶר, הוּתַּר הַנֶּדֶר!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
They asked him further: **What is** the *halakha* with regard to **a shoe that is on a last?** Is it considered a complete vessel, which needs no further preparation, and is therefore susceptible to impurity? Rabbi Eliezer **said to them: It is pure, and** with this word, **his soul left** him **in purity. Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: The vow is permitted; the vow is permitted;** i.e., the ostracism that was placed on Rabbi Eliezer is removed.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:10
[Sanhedrin 68a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:10)

לְמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת פָּגַע בּוֹ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא בֵּין קֵסָרִי לְלוֹד. הָיָה מַכֶּה בִּבְשָׂרוֹ עַד שֶׁדָּמוֹ שׁוֹתֵת לָאָרֶץ. פָּתַח עָלָיו בְּשׁוּרָה וְאָמַר: אָבִי אָבִי רֶכֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל וּפָרָשָׁיו. הַרְבֵּה מָעוֹת יֵשׁ לִי וְאֵין לִי שׁוּלְחָנִי לְהַרְצוֹתָן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Akiva was not present at the time of his death. **At the conclusion of Shabbat, Rabbi Akiva encountered** the funeral procession on his way **from Caesarea to Lod.** Rabbi Akiva **was striking his flesh** in terrible anguish and regret **until his blood flowed to the earth. He began to** eulogize Rabbi Eliezer **in the row** of those comforting the mourners, **and said: “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen”** (II Kings 2:12). **I have many coins, but I do not have a money changer** to whom **to give them,** i.e., I have many questions, but after your death I have no one who can answer them.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:11
[Sanhedrin 68a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:11)

אַלְמָא, מֵרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר גַּמְרַהּ? גַּמְרַהּ מֵרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְלָא סַבְרַהּ. הֲדַר גַּמְרַהּ מֵרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וְאַסְבְּרַהּ נִיהֲלֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara returns to the matter at hand: **Apparently,** Rabbi Akiva **learned** the *halakhot* of gathering cucumbers through sorcery **from Rabbi Eliezer,** not from Rabbi Yehoshua. The Gemara answers: **He learned it from Rabbi Eliezer but he did not understand it. Later he learned it from Rabbi Yehoshua, and** Rabbi Yehoshua **explained it to him.**


###### Sanhedrin 68a:12
[Sanhedrin 68a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:12)

הֵיכִי עָבֵיד הָכִי? וְהָאֲנַן תְּנַן: הָעוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה – חַיָּיב! לְהִתְלַמֵּד שָׁאנֵי, דְּאָמַר מָר: ״לֹא תִלְמַד לַעֲשׂוֹת״ – לַעֲשׂוֹת אִי אַתָּה לָמֵד, אֲבָל אַתָּה לָמֵד לְהָבִין וּלְהוֹרוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **How could** Rabbi Eliezer **have performed that** act of sorcery? **But didn’t we learn** in the mishna that **one who performs an act** of sorcery **is liable?** The Gemara answers: Performing sorcery not in order to use it, but in order **to teach oneself** the *halakhot* **is different,** and it is permitted; **as the Master says** that it is derived from the verse: **“You shall not learn to do** like the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you…one who uses divination, a soothsayer, an enchanter, or a sorcerer” (Deuteronomy 18:9–10), so that **you shall not learn,** i.e., it is prohibited for you to learn, in order **to do, but you may learn,** i.e., it is permitted for you to learn, in order **to understand** the matter yourself **and teach** it to others.


###### Sanhedrin 68a:13
[Sanhedrin 68a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/68a:13)

**הֲדַרַן עֲלָךְ אַרְבַּע מִיתוֹת**