(Fol. 71 b) R. Jochanan said: Then was I in His eyes as one that found peace. (Songs 8, 10) "Like a bride who finds everything perfect in the house of her father-in-law and is anxious to go and inform her parents of that fact." (Nos. 2, 8) And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call Me Ishi (my hushand), and shalt call Me no more Ba'ali (my husband); R. Jochanan said: "This means [that in the future Israel shall be] like a bride in the house of her parents [who is continually with her husband,] but not like a bride in the house of her parents [who sometimes is with her husband and sometimes without him."]
(Fol. 72) We are taught that it was the custom of R. Maier to say: "What is the meaning of the passage (Ecc. 7, 2) It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart. What does the words and the living will lay it to his heart, mean? This refers to things in connection with death. He who mourns [the death of] others, [his death] will be mourned by others; he who raises [his voice] in mourning upon other's death, will, in return, be mourned by others; he who escorts [the dead] will be escorted by others, and he who carries [the bier of] others, will, in return, be carried [with] honor by others."
(Fol. 75) (Ps. 87, 5) But of Zion it shall be said: "This man and that was born in her; and Most High Himself doth establish her." R. Meyasha, the grandson of R. Joshua, said: "No matter whether he is one who was born in it, or one that looks forward and hopes for its restoration [to both of them refer the passages with its promise."] "And one of them from the land of Israel," added Abayi, "is better than two of us [of Babylon."] "Nevertheless," remarked Raba, "if one of ours comes up here (in the land of Israel) he surpasses two of their in wisdom, as the instance of R. Jeremia who, before he came up there, did not understand what the Rabbis would say, but after he had been there he called us 'foolish Babylonians.' "
(Fol. 77b.) R. Jochanan ordered the following announcement: "Beware of flies that sucked from those afflicted with gonorrhoea [that are carrying contagion."] R. Zera would not sit where such a wind (of gonorrhea] blew. R. Elazar would not enter into such a tent. R. Ami and R. Assi did not even use the eggs of the street where a person afflicted with gonorrhoea was found. R. Joshua b. Levi, however, would embrace them and study the Torah, saying (Pr. 5, 19) A lovely hind and a graceful roe; i.e., "if she (the Torah) causes gracefulness unto those who study her, how is it possible that she should not protect them [against sickness?"] When R. Joshua b. Levi was about to die the Angel of Death was instructed to visit him and do all his wishes. He came and disclosed himself to R. Joshua. "Come and show me my place [I am to occupy in Eden,"] requested R. Joshua. "Very well," replied the Angel of Death. "But give me your sword," requested R. Joshua, "lest thou frighten me during our travel." The angel gave it to him. Upon reaching their destiny, the angel lifted him up and showed him the place [which he would occupy some day in the future,] when R. Joshua made a jump, throwing himself over on the other side. The angel [observing R. Joshua's action] took a hold at the end of his cloak [pressing him to return.] Whereupon R. Joshua said: "I swear that I shall not go back." The Holy One, praised be He! said: "If he ever, during his lifetime, sought to be relieved of an oath then he must go back [then his present oath should be revoked,) but if not, then he cannot be compelled to return [on account of his oath."] "Give me then my sword," pleaded the angel with him. But R. Joshua refused to comply with his request. When a Heavenly voice came forth and said to him: "Give it back to him, for it is urgently needed for the world." Elijah then announced before him: "Have ready a place for the son of Levi. Have ready a place for the son of Levi." When he came he found that R. Simon b. Jochai was seated on thirteen golden chairs. The latter asked him: "Art thou that bar Levi?" "Yes," came the reply. "Was a rainbow ever seen during thy lifetime?" R. Simon asked him. "Yes," replied R. Joshua. "If so, then I don't believe that thou art that bar Levi," remarked R. Simon b. Jochai. However, the real fact is that it was never seen during his life, but R. Joshua did not want the credit for himself. R. Chanina b. Papa was intimately associated [with the Angel of Death.] When he was about to die, the Angel of Death was told to go and render him some friendly service. He accordingly went and introduced himself to R. Chanina [as to the purpose of his visit]. The latter requested him to leave him for thirteen days, to review what he had been learning; for it is said: "Blessed is he who comes here with his studies ready." Thereupon he left him, and at the expiration of the thirty days returned and introduced himself to the Rabbi. "Come and show me my place [that I am to occupy in Eden."] requested R. Chanina. "Very well," replied the Angel of Death. "But give me thy sword," said R. Chanina, "lest thou frighten me on the road [while we shall travel." The angel replied: "Dost thou mean to serve me as thy friend did?" R. Chanina then said to the angel: "Bring a scroll and convince thyself if there is a thing written in it which I did not fulfill." Whereupon the angel replied: "But didst thou embrace the gonorrhoeal persons and study the Torah with them?" Nevertheless when he died a column of fire was interposed between him and the rest of the world, and we have a tradition that a column of fire interposes only to one or two [greatest] of a generation. R. Alexandri then approached the dead, saying: "Do it (give admission unto you) for the sake of honor of all the sages," but no attention was paid to him. "Do it for the sake of thy father's honor;" still no attention was paid to him. "Do it for thy own sake," [pleaded R. Alexandri.] Whereupon the column of fire disappeared. Abaye said: "The column of fire comes to exclude them who left of the Torah unfulfilled even as little as one letter." Whereupon R. Ada b. Mathna remarked: "To exclude the master for not having a proper fence around his roof." However, this accusation was just for the fact was that Abaye had a fence around his roof, only at that time [of the critics] it had been destroyed by a wind.
R. Chanina said: "Why are there no persons afflicted with the disease of gonorrhoea in Babylon? Because they eat beets and drink beer made of cuscuta growing on hizme [instead of hops." R. Jochanan said: "Why are there none afflicted with leprosy in Babylon? Because they eat beets, drink beer and bathe themselves in the river P'rath (Euphrates)."