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198. R. Johanan b. Zakkai explained to R. Joshua, whowas mourning over the destroyed Temple and who saidthat it was now impossible to obtain forgiveness for sinsas there were no longer sacrifices, that charity and piousactions atone.

199. R. Joshua did not protest when R. Gamliel waited onhim, for he said:" Abraham waited on the travellers andGod waits on every man, since He provides him with food."

200. R. Johanan b. Matya ordered his son to feed hisJewish workmen adequately. The son replied that it wasimpossible to feed the children of Abraham adequately,for even were they to be fed like those who feasted at thetable of Solomon, where were all the dainties of the world,even then it would not be according to their merits.

201. The Prophet Elijah showed the future portals ofJerusalem which were made of carbuncles, to R. Joshuab. Levi.

202. A child in a boat was shown by the Prophet Elijahthe stones of carbuncles on the condition that he wouldshow them to R. Joshua b. Levi in Lud. He did so andthree miles distance from Lud he dropped them into acavern and they disappeared.

203. R. Johanan said that the future Eastern portal andposts of Jerusalem would be made of one pearl. A Minscoffed at it. After a time he travelled in a ship and saw inthe sea the angels sawing and preparing the pearl for thegate. On his return he confessed it to R. Johanan, wholooked at him and turned him into a heap of bones.

204. A pious man, whilst walking along the sea- shore ofHaifa doubted the possibility of gates being of pearl.He was threatened with punishment by a Divine voice,repented, and was shown the angels cutting it at the bottomof the sea.

205. R. Shimeon b. Yoḥai prevented tribulations overtakingthe world and therefore no rainbows appeared to warn itof calamity. The prophet Elijah and R. Joshua b. Levi methim and he refused to see R. Joshua, because a rainbow