The story about Rabbi Elazar the son of Rabbi Shimon leads to discussions of his obesity which leads to a discussion of the size of various rabbi’s sexual organ which leads to a discussion of Rabbi Yochanan’s beauty which leads to the famous story of Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish from the day they meet until their tragic deaths. The story then moves back to Rabbi Elazar’s conscience from his earlier actions which compels him to ask God to make him suffer. The remainder of his life is discussed including his death where he asks to be left in the attic since he knew the rabbis would not want to bury him. Eventually (approximately 20 years after his death), they bury him in a cave next to his father’s burial place. The major thread that unites all these stories is the arrogance of the rabbis and the harshness of their words that brings upon their downfall. The stories can be viewed as a critique of the rabbis of the Babylonian study houses where arrogance permeated their learning.
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