The Oral Talmud with Benay Lappe and Dan Libenson Episode 86

One day, Rabbi Yoḥanan was bathing in the Jordan River. Reish Lakish saw him and jumped into the Jordan after him.Hesaid tohim: Your strengthfor Torah. Hesaid to him: Your beautyfor women.Hesaid to him: If you return yourself, I will give you my sister, who is more beautiful than I am.Heaccepted it upon himself. Hewanted to jump backto bringhis clothes, but he was unable to return.HeTorah-ed him, and he Mishna-ed him, and turned him into a great man.

One daythe study hall was engaging in a dispute:the sword, the knife, the dagger, the spear, the hand sickle, and the harvest sickle--from when are they susceptible to ritual impurity?From the time of the completion of their making.And when is the completion of their making? Rabbi Yoḥanan said:From when one firesthemin the furnace. Reish Lakish said:From when one douses them in water. Hesaid tohim:A bandit knows his banditry.He said to him: What good did you do me?Therethey called me master, and herethey call me master. Hesaid to him: I did do you good, for I brought you closeunder the wings of the Divine Presence.Rabbi Yoḥanan's mind weakened and Reish Lakishfell ill.Hissister came crying, sayingto him: Doitfor the sake of my children! He said to her: “Leave your fatherless children, I will rear them” (Jeremiah 49:11). Doitfor the sake of my widowhood! He said to her: “And let your widows trust in Me.”The soul of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish [Reish Lakish] rested. Rabbi Yoḥanan was grieved greatly overhim. The Rabbis said: Whom shall we send to easehismind? Let's send Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat, for his learnings are sharp. He went and sat before him. Every matter that Rabbi Yoḥanan would say,hewould say to him:There is a teaching that supports you. Hesaid: Are youthe son of Lakish?The son of Lakish--when I would state a matter, he would raise twenty-four challenges against me, and I would answer him with twenty-four resolutions, and from this, the tradition became wider. Andyou! You say:"A teaching supports you."Don't I know that what I say is right?Hewent around, rending his clothing, weeping and saying: Where are you, son of Lakish? Where are you, son of Lakish? Hecried out until he lost his mind. The Rabbisbeggedformercy on himand hissoul rested.