pleasures), shall go down into Gehenna, and there be punished for twelve months, after which period their bodies will be destroyed and their soul consumed, and a wind shall scatter their ashes under the soles of the feet of the righteous; as it is said (Mal. iv. 3), “And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be as ashes under the soles of your feet.”  But the Minim, the informers, and the Epicureans, they who deny the law and the resurrection of the dead, they who separate themselves from the manners of the congregation, they who have been a terror in the land of the living, and they who have sinned and have led the multitude astray, as did Jeroboam the son of Nebat and his companions,—­these shall go down into Gehenna, and there be judged for generations upon generations, as it is said (Isa. lxvi, 24), “And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me,” etc.  Gehenna itself shall be consumed but they shall not be burned up in the destruction; as it is said (Ps. xlix, 14; Heb. xv.), “And their figures shall consume hell from being a dwelling.”

Rosh Hashanah, fol. 17, col. 1.

Once when Israel went up by pilgrimages to one of the three annual feasts at Jerusalem (see Exod. xxxiv. 23, 24), it so happened that there was no water to drink.  Nicodemon ben Gorion therefore hired of a friendly neighbor twelve huge reservoirs of water promising to have them replenished against a given time, or failing this to forfeit twelve talents of silver.  The appointed day came and still the drought continued, and therewith the scarcity of water; upon which the creditor appeared and demanded payment of the forfeit.  The answer of Nicodemon to the demand was, “There’s time yet; the day is not over.”  The other chuckled to himself, inwardly remarking, “There’s no chance now; there’s been no rain all the season,” and off he went to enjoy his bath.  But Nicodemon sorrowful at heart, wended his way to the Temple.  After putting on his prayer scarf, as he prayed, he pleaded, “Lord of the Universe!  Thou knowest that I have not entered into this obligation for my own sake, but for Thy glory and for the benefit of Thy people.”  While he yet prayed the clouds gathered overhead, the rain fell in torrents, and the reservoirs were filled to overflowing.  On going out of the house of prayer he was met by the exacting creditor, who still urged that the money was due to him, as he said, the rain came after sunset.  But in answer to prayer the clouds immediately dispersed, and the sun shone out as brightly as ever.

Taanith, fol. 19. col. 2.

    Nicodemon ben Gorion of the above story is by some considered to
    be the Nicodemus of St. John’s Gospel, iii. 1-10; vii. 50; xix
    30.

Would that my husband were here and could listen to me; I should permit him to stay away another twelve years.

Kethuboth, fol. 63. col. 1.