From Judging To Learning
[Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai and his son, Rabbi Elazar] went and hid [from the Romans] in a cave. A miracle occurred and a carob-tree and a spring of water were created for them. They would remove their garments and sit up to their necks in sand. They studied all day; when it was time for prayers they got dressed to cover themselves, prayed, and then took off their garments again, so that they should not wear out. Thus they dwelt for twelve years in the cave.
Then Elijah came and stood at the entrance to the cave and exclaimed, 鈥淲ho will inform the son of Yohai that the emperor is dead and his decree annulled?鈥 So they emerged. Seeing a man plowing and sowing, they exclaimed, 鈥淭hey forsake life eternal and engage in life temporal!鈥 Whatever they cast their eyes upon was immediately burnt up.
A heavenly voice cried out, 鈥淗ave you emerged to destroy My world: Return to your cave!鈥 So they returned and dwelt there for another twelve months, saying, 鈥淭he punishment of the wicked in Gehenna is [limited to] twelve months.鈥
A heavenly voice cried out, 鈥淕o forth from your cave!鈥 They went outside. Wherever Rabbi Elazar wounded, Rabbi Shimon healed. He said to him, 鈥淢y son, you and I are enough for the world.鈥
On the eve of Shabbat before sunset they saw an old man holding two bundles of myrtle and running at twilight. 鈥淲hat are these for?鈥 they asked him. 鈥淭hey are in honor of Shabbat,鈥 he replied. 鈥淚sn鈥檛 one enough?鈥濃斺淥ne is for 鈥楻emember [the Shabbat] (Ex. 20:8)鈥 and one for 鈥極bserve [the Shabbat] (Deut. 5:12).鈥欌 [Rabbi Shimon] said to his son, 鈥淪ee how precious the mitzvot are to Israel!鈥 Their minds were then at rest.
(Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 33b)
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