Rabbi Jose son of Abin used to study with R. Jose of Yokreh. One day he left Jose of Yokreh and went to study in the school of Rabbi Ashi.

Rabbi Ashi said to R. Jose son of Abin, "How is it that you come to my school to study? You used to attend the school of R. Jose of Yokreh. Why have you left him to come to me?"

R. Jose son of Abin replied, "How can I show pity to a man who has no pity on his own son and daughter?"

What was the story about his son and daughter?

One day R. Jose had many laborers working in his field, and it was his custom every day to bring their noon day meal for them into the field in person. One day he was late and could not bring their midday meal to his laborers. The latter were hungry and said to his son, "We should like to eat. It is noontime and your father has not yet come with the meal."

They all sat together under a fig tree, but there was no fruit, on the tree, as yet.

And the son said to the tree, "Fig tree, bring out thy figs and let them grow ripe so that the laborers of my father may have something to eat."

And there suddenly grew figs on the tree, and the workmen ate their fill of the figs that were growing on the tree.

Not long after, the father appeared with the food which he had brought for the laborers, as was his custom. He said to the people, "Do not be angry with me for having come so late. An unexpected duty presented itself to me, and I was detained."

And the laborers replied, "May God satisfy you as we are now satisfied."

Then R. Jose asked, "How can you be satisfied when you had nothing to eat?"

Then they told him the whole story about the figs that they had eaten.

R. Jose was greatly frightened and said to his son, "O my son, you have troubled the Almighty to bring out figs from the tree before the proper time, therefore you shall also die before your time."

Thus he cursed his son so that he had to die before his time.

What was the story about the daughter?

I will tell you: R. Jose had a daughter whose beauty was beyond compare. One day R. Jose saw a young man making a hole in the wall of the garden, so that he might be able to look at his daughter.

R. Jose had just come, and he said to the young man, "What is your purpose in making this hole in the wall?"

The young man replied, "My dear Rabbi, if I am not worthy to have your daughter as a wife, at least let me look at her beauty."

Then he said to her, "My daughter, your beauty causes trouble to the people, better

return to earth, so that the people may not sin on your account."

So he cursed her, showing no pity for his own daughter, and she died.

"Why then should I have pity on him?" said R. Jose, "and this is the reason why I

refused to study with him any longer."