R. Eleazar, the son of Hyrcanus, had a dispute with his colleagues. What he declared clean they declared unclean, and would not agree with him; R. Eliezer (sic) brought all the arguments that there were, but they refused to give in.

As there was a carob tree nearby, R. Eliezer said: "If my interpretation of the law is correct, let the carob tree uproot itself and plant itself in another place."

A miracle happened, and the tree tore itself with its roots from the place where it stood and planted itself a hundred cubits away, (Some say it was four hundred cubits.) It was thus evident that R. Eliezer was right.

But the sages said: "We pay no attention to the tree, and we will not accept your ruling."

Then R. Eliezer said: "If my interpretation of the law is correct, let this stream reverse its course and flow backwards as it is now flowing forwards."

Again a miracle happened and the river flowed backwards.

It was again clear therefrom that R. Eliezer was right, but they said again: "We pay no heed to the course of the river."

Then R. Eliezer said again: "If my interpretation of the law is correct, let the walls of the college fall in and prove thereby which of us is right."

At these words the walls of the college began to bend and were about to fall, when R. Joshua, cried out and said: "If the sages dispute among themselves, what right have you to mix yourselves in their dispute?"

Thereupon the walls stood still and refused to fall in out of respect for R. Joshua, who had rebuked them. But neither would they right themselves again out of respect for R. EIiezer. Then R. Eliezer said: "If I am right, let a voice come from heaven and decide between us."

And a voice came from heaven, saying: "Why do you dispute with R. Eliezer? The law is as R. EIiezer says."

Then the sages said: "We pay no heed to the heavenly voice, for the Lord, blessed be He, has written in His Torah: 'Ye shall incline after the multitude' (Ex. 23.2), which means that whenever an individual is in disagreement with many, the law is decided by the majority and not by the individual. Therefore we will not yield."

Soon after, R. Nathan met the prophet Elijah and said to him: "Pray, what did God do, when the sages were disputing?"

The prophet replied: "God looked on and smiled, and said: 'My children have won a victory over Me'." (This is only a figure of speech.)

Then the sages put R. Eliezer in herem (excommunicated him). Then they said to one another: "Who shall go and announce to him that he has been excommunicated? For someone might tell him who is not worthy of the task."

R. Akiba said: "I will go and inform him."

R. Akiba dressed himself in black, like a man who is in mourning, and placed himself in front of R. Eliezer at a distance of four cubits.

R. Eliezer said to him: "Dear Master, why are you dressed in black today?"

And he replied: "Master, I believe your colleagues have excommunicated you and have cut themselves off from you."

When R. Eliezer heard this, he took off his shoes, rent his garments, sat down on the ground and mourned, as if a corpse were lying before him, and wept bitterly. At the time when they pronounced the excommunication, the world was smitten. One third suffered in its crop of olives, one third in its barley and the third part in its wheat, which was all destroyed. Some people say that even the dough in the hands of the women rotted away. Such an evil day was that in which R. Eliezer was excommunicated! Moreover, every thing that R. Eliezer looked at on that day was burned. The Nasi (prince) at that time was Rabban Gamaliel, who took part in the excommunication. He was Rabbi Eliezer's brother-in-law, being the brother of R. Eliezer's wife.

One day R. Eliezer was saying his prayers. At that moment R. Gamaliel was traveling in a ship on the sea. A strong wind arose, threatening to upset the ship, and Rabban Gamaliel said, "I believe, this evil has come upon me because I have excommunicated R. Eliezer, the son of Hyrcanus." Then he began to pray, and said: ,"Lord of the universe, Thou knowest that I have not done it for the sake of my own honor,

nor for the sake of my father's honor, but for I the sake of Thine honor, so that there may not be disputes in Israel, one person disputing against many."

When he had finished his earnest prayer, the wind ceased and the sea became calm.

After this the wife of R. Eliezer would not allow him to say the prayer known as tahanun, She was afraid it might cause the death of her brother, Rabban Gamaliel, as had almost happened on that occasion. One day a poor man came to the door and asked for a piece of bread. She went outside to give him a piece of bread, and while she was there, R. Eliezer fell upon his face and said the prayer of tahanun, When she returned and found him praying, she said to him: "Alas and woe unto me! Arise, for you have caused the death of my brother."

After a while a cry arose that R. Eliezer had caused Rabban Gamaliel's death.

Then the people said to the wife of R. Eliezer: "How did you know that your brother was dead?"

She replied: "I have it as a tradition from my father, that all the gates of prayer are closed except of the prayer of one who has been unjustly excommunicated."

Therefore no man should stand up against the whole community. R. Eliezer was a very worthy man and won the approbation of God, and yet he was excommunicated by the community. No man should stand up against the whole community even if he thinks he is right. He should be pious and bear in mind what such an attitude may finally bring.