Virtue And  Morality 

תוקף ומוסר

Rabbi Hanina ben Teradyon, in contrast to Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma, maintained that one should not seek the favor of the Roman government. He taught Torah despite the severe prohibition against doing so, and he too was executed while being tortured.  

When Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma fell ill, Rabbi Hanina ben Teradyon went to visit him. Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma said to him: Hanina my brother, don’t you know that this nation [Rome] has been crowned by a decree from Heaven [and therefore, it is preferable not to provoke them]? The proof is that Rome has destroyed God’s Temple, burned His Sanctuary, killed His pious ones, and destroyed His elites, and the empire still exists.<footnote data-num="53"/> Yet I heard about you that you sit and engage in Torah study and convene assemblies in public, with a Torah scroll placed in your lap. 

Rabbi Hanina ben Teradyon said to him: From the heavens they will have mercy and protect me. Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma said to him: I am stating reasonable claims to you, and you tell me: From the heavens they will have mercy? I wonder whether the Romans will not burn you and the Torah scroll in fire…  

The Sages said: Not even a few days passed and Rabbi Yosei ben Kisma died of his illness. And all of the Roman notables went to bury him, and they eulogized him with a great eulogy. Upon their return, they found Rabbi Hanina ben Teradyon sitting and engaging in Torah study and convening assemblies in public, with a Torah scroll placed in his lap. 

They brought him and wrapped him in the Torah scroll, encircled him with bundles of thin branches, and set fire to it. They brought tufts of wool and soaked them in water, and placed them on his heart, so that his soul would not depart his body quickly. His daughter said to him: Father, how can I see you like this? Rabbi Hanina ben Teradyon said to her: Were I being burned alone, it would be difficult for me. Now that I am burning along with a Torah scroll, He who seeks retribution for the affront to the Torah scroll will seek retribution for the affront to me, as well.<footnote data-num="54"/> 

His students said to him: Our teacher, what do you see? Rabbi Hanina said to them: I see the scroll’s parchment burning, and its letters flying to the heavens. They said: You, too, open your mouth so the fire will enter you and hasten your death. Rabbi Hanina said to them: It is preferable that He who gave my soul will take it, and he [referring to himself] will not do harm to himself. 

The executioner said to him: Rabbi, if I increase the flame and take the tufts of wool from upon your heart [thereby hastening your death and minimizing your suffering], will you bring me to the life of the World to Come? Rabbi Hanina said to him: Yes. The executioner requested: Take an oath to me that you will do so. Rabbi Hanina took an oath to him. The executioner immediately increased the flame and took the tufts of wool from upon his heart, and his soul left his body quickly. The executioner too, leaped and fell into the fire and died. 

A divine voice emerged and said: Rabbi Hanina ben Teradyon and the executioner are destined for the life of the World to Come. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi wept, and said: There is one who acquires his place in the World to Come in one moment, like the executioner, and there is one who acquires his place in the World to Come only after many years. <source>(<i>Avoda</i> <i>Zara</i> 18a) </source>