azzai

There is a teaching to the same effect : Ben 'Azzai says : Rise early and go out, and act likewise after dusk so that thou needest not go a distance ; feel the need and then sit down, but do not sit down and then [wait to] feel the need, for whoever does so, even should they practise sorcery in Aspamia it will befall him.

There is a teaching : Ben 'Azzai says : Lie upon any couch but not on the floor ; sit upon any seat except a beam. Samuel said : Sleeping at dawn is like a steel edge to iron ; evacuation at dawn is like a steel edge to iron.

R. Abbahu said: Read not hadar, but ha-dar, a fruit which lives upon its tree from year to year. Ben Azzai said: Read not hadar, but hudor for in Greek water is called hudor. Now what fruit is it that grows by every water? Say it is the etrog.

4. On days when Hallel is recited, there is no Ma'amad service in the morning (שחרית); on days when an additional (Musaf) offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Minḥah prayer; on days when a wood-offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Ne'ilah (closing) prayer; this is the opinion of R. 'Aḳiba. Ben 'Azzai said to him: thus R. Joshua taught: On days when an additional offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Ne'ilah prayer, but when a wood-offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Minḥah prayer. R. 'Aḳiba then accepted the version of Ben 'Azzai.

4. On days when Hallel is recited, there is no Ma'amad service in the morning (שחרית); on days when an additional (Musaf) offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Minḥah prayer; on days when a wood-offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Ne'ilah (closing) prayer; this is the opinion of R. 'Aḳiba. Ben 'Azzai said to him: thus R. Joshua taught: On days when an additional offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Ne'ilah prayer, but when a wood-offering is brought, there is no Ma'amad service during the Minḥah prayer. R. 'Aḳiba then accepted the version of Ben 'Azzai.

R. Nehemiah says: Hadassah was her name. Why then was she called Esther? All peoples called her so after Istahar. Ben Azzai said: Esther was neither too tall nor too short, but of medium size, like a myrtle. Joshua b. Korha said: Esther was green, and there was an aura of kindness (hesed) about her.

Our Rabbis have taught, Four men went up into Paradise, and they were these, Ben Azzai, and Ben Zoma, Acher, and R. Akiba. R. Akiba said to them, When ye come near to the stones of pure marble, do not say, Water, water! for it is said, "He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes" (Ps. ci. 7). Ben Azzai gazed and died. Concerning him the Scripture says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Ps. cxvi. 15). Ben Zoma gazed and went mad, and concerning him the Scripture says, "Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith and vomit it" (Prov. xxv. 16). Acher cut the plants. R. Akiba departed in peace.

Our Rabbis have taught, Four men went up into Paradise, and they were these, Ben Azzai, and Ben Zoma, Acher, and R. Akiba. R. Akiba said to them, When ye come near to the stones of pure marble, do not say, Water, water! for it is said, "He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes" (Ps. ci. 7). Ben Azzai gazed and died. Concerning him the Scripture says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Ps. cxvi. 15). Ben Zoma gazed and went mad, and concerning him the Scripture says, "Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee; lest thou be filled therewith and vomit it" (Prov. xxv. 16). Acher cut the plants. R. Akiba departed in peace.