Money, it's a crime?

(5) The LORD is exalted, He dwells on high;

(Of old) He filled Zion with justice and righteousness.

(6) Faithfulness to Your charge was her wealth,

Wisdom and devotion her truimph,

Reverence for the LORD - that was her treasure.

Resh Lakish said, What is meant by the verse, and there shall be faith in thy times, strength, salvation, wisdom and knowledge? 'Faith' refers to the Order of Zera’im; thy times, the Order of Moed; strength, the Order of Nashim; salvation, the Order of Nezikin; wisdom, the Order of Kodashim; and knowledge, to the Order of Toharot. Yet even so the fear of the Lord is his treasure

When a mortal is brought before the [heavenly] court he is asked:

"Did you conduct yourself in business faithfully?

Did you set time for Torah [study]?

Did you try to procreate?

Did you hope for the Messiah?

Did you argue intelligently?

Did you understand things based on other things?"

Yet even so, if 'the fear of the Lord is his treasure,' it is well: if not, [it is] not [well].

A parable: This may be compared to a man who instructed his agent, 'Take me up a kor of wheat in the loft,' and he went and did so. 'Did you mix in a kab (1/180th of a kor) of humton (a preservative)?' he asked him, 'No,' replied he. 'Then it were better that you had not carried it up,' he retorted.

And Jacob was left alone. Said Rabbi Eleazar: He remained behind for the sake of some small jars. Hence it is learnt that to the righteous their money is dearer than their body; and why is this so? Because they will not stretch out their hands to steal.

Rabbi Yehuda opened and said, "How fine are the deeds of [the Roman] nation; they set up markets, they set up bridges, they set up bathhouses." Rabbi Yose was quiet. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai answered and said, "All that they set up, they didn't set up except for their own needs; they set up markets to place prostitutes in them, bathhouses to pamper themselves, bridges to take taxes from them." Rabbi Yehudah ben Gerim went and told over their words and they were heard by the government. [The government officials] said, "Yehuda that elevated [us] should be elevated, Yose that was quiet should be exiled to Tsippori, Shimon that disgraced [us] should be killed." He and his son went [and] hid in the study hall, every day, his wife would bring them bread and a container of water and they ate. When the decree became more pronounced, he said to his son, "women have weak resolve; maybe [the Romans] will distress her and she will reveal [our location]." They went and hid in a cave. A miracle occurred [and] a carob tree and a spring of water were created for them. And they would take off their clothes and would sit up to their necks in sand; the whole day they would study; at the time of prayers they would get dressed, cover themselves and pray; and [then] they would go back and take off their clothes so that they would not get worn out. They sat for twelve years in the cave. Eliyahu came and stood at the entrance of the cave [and] said, "Who will inform Bar Yochai that the Caeser has died and that his decree has been annulled?" They came out; they saw people that were plowing and planting. [Rabbi Shimon] said, "They are leaving over eternal life and involving themselves with temporary life." Every place upon which they would set their eyes would immediately burn. A Heavenly voice came out and said to them, "Did you come out [of the cave] to destroy my world? Go back to your cave!" They returned and went [back]; they sat for twelve months of a year; they [then] said, "the judgment of the wicked is twelve months in Gehinnom." A Heavenly voice came out and said, "go out from your cave." As the [sun was setting] on the eve of Shabbat, they saw an hold man holding two bundles of hyssops and running at twilight. They said to him, "what are these to you?" He said to them, "For the honor of the Shabbat." [They said back,] "Would one not suffice?" [He responded,] "One corresponding to Exodus 20:7), 'Remember' and one corresponding to (Deuteronomy 5:11) 'Guard.'" [Rabbi Shimon] said to his son, "See, how beloved the commandments are to Israel." [And so] their minds were put at ease.... He said, "Since a miracle took place, I will go and fix a matter, as it is written (Genesis 33:18), 'And Ya'akov returned intact' (and Rav said [about that], "Intact in his body, intact in his money and intact in his[knowledge] of Torah.") 'and he graced the face of the city.'" (Rav said [about that], "He instituted a coin." And Shmuel said "He set up marketplaces." And Rabbi Yochanan said, "He set up bathhouses.")

Is there ought that requires amending? he asked. There is a place of doubtful uncleanness, he was informed,

and priests have the trouble of going round it. Said he: Does any man know that there was a presumption of cleanness here? A certain old man replied, Here [R. Johanan] b. Zakkai cut down lupines of terumah. So he did likewise. Wherever it (the ground] was hard he declared it clean, while wherever it was loose he, marked it out. Said a certain old man. The son of Yohai has purified a cemetery! Said he, Had you not been with us, even if you have been with us but did not vote, you might have said well. But now that you were with us and voted with us, It will be said, [Even] whores paint one another; how much more so scholars! He cast his eye upon him, and he died. Then he went out into the street and saw Judah, the son of proselytes: 'That man is still in the world!' he exclaimed. He cast his eyes upon him and he became a heap of bones.