Rabbi Eliezer was in an argument with five fellow rabbis over the proper way to perform a certain ritual. The other five Rabbis were all in agreement with each other, but Rabbi Eliezer vehemently disagreed. Finally, Rabbi Nathan pointed out “Eliezer, the vote is five to one! Give it up already!” Eliezer got fed up and said “If I am right, may God himself tell you so!” Thunder crashed, the heavens opened up, and the voice of God boomed down. “YES,” said God, “RABBI ELIEZER IS RIGHT. RABBI ELIEZER IS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS RIGHT.” Rabbi Nathan turned and conferred with the other rabbis for a moment, then turned back to Rabbi Eliezer. “All right, Eliezer,” he said, “the vote stands at five to TWO.”
True Talmudic story, from TVTropes. Scarily prescient? Also: related musings from Muflax’ blog.
Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah was a renown leader and scholar, who was elected Nassi (leader) of the Jewish people at the age of eighteen. The Sages feared that as such a young man, he would not be respected. Overnight, his hair turned grey and his beard grew so he looked as if he was 70 years old.
True Talmudic story, from TVTropes. Scarily prescient? Also: related musings from Muflax’ blog.
Original: http://www.senderberl.com/jewish/trial.htm
That link’s down, but here’s a live one.
And while we’re trading Yeshiva stories...
Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah was a renown leader and scholar, who was elected Nassi (leader) of the Jewish people at the age of eighteen. The Sages feared that as such a young man, he would not be respected. Overnight, his hair turned grey and his beard grew so he looked as if he was 70 years old.
http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/pesach/pesseder.htm
That appears to be a malware site. Is it the same as http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~marinaj/babyloni.htm ?
Yep.