Rabbi Abba, in the name of Shemuel, says, "The schools of Shammai and Hillel were at variance three years, the one party contending and saying, 'The Halacha is according to us;' and the other, 'The Halacha is according to us.' Then came a voice from the Lord and said, 'Both these and those are the words of the living God, but yet the Halacha is according to the school of Hillel.' What was the merit of the school of Hillel that the Halacha should be pronounced to be according to it? Its disciples were gentle and forbearing, for while they stood by their own decisions, they also stated those maintained by the school of Shammai, and often even mentioned the tenets of the school of Shammai first and their own afterward. This teaches us that him who humbles himself, God will exalt; and him who exalts himself, God will abase. Whoso pursueth greatness, greatness will flee from him; and whoso fleeth from greatness, greatness will pursue him." _Eiruvin_, fol. 13, col. 2. There are three entrances to hell:--One in the desert, one in the sea, and one in Jerusalem. Ibid., fol. 19, col. i. These three will never see hell:--He who is purified by poverty; he who is purged by a painful flux; and he who is harassed by importunate creditors; and some say, he also who is plagued with a termagant wife. _Eiruvin_, fol. 41, col. 2. Three effects are ascribed to Babylonian broth (which was made of moldy bread, sour milk, and salt):--It retards the action of the heart, it affects the eyesight, and emaciates the body. _P'sachim_, fol. 42, col 1. These three are not permitted to come between two men, nor is a man allowed to pass between any two of these three:--A dog, a palm tree, or a woman; to which some add the pig, and others the serpent as well. Ibid., fol. 111, col. 1. One part of this regulation is rather hard and should surely be abolished; that, viz, which ordains a woman shall not come between two men or a man pass between two women. The compiler of this Miscellany was once witness to a case which illustrates its inconvenience: it occurred at Tiberias. A pious young Jew who had to traverse a narrow road to pass from the lake to the town was kept standing for a very considerable time under a broiling sun, simply because two young women, to tease him, guarded the entrance, and dared him to pass between them. Of course he dared not accept the challenge, otherwise he would have incurred the penalty of death, according to the judgment of the Talmud; for "Whosoever transgresses any of the words of the Scribes is guilty of death." (_Eiruvin_, fol. 21, col. 2.) These three will inherit the world to come:--He who dwells in the land of Israel; he who brings up his sons to the study of the law; and he who repeats the ritual blessing over the appointed cup of wine at the close of the Sabbath. _P'sachim_, fol. 113, col. 1.