"Every day a person's evil impulse threatens to control him or her, and tries to destroy him or her" (b. Sukkah 52b)

a. Was a contemporary of Rabbi Yochanan

b. Convert to Judaism who became a great Torah scholar

c. Colorful and wild youthful escapades, including being a gladiator

d. Later became a model of piety, scholarship, and a holy lifestyle

e. Recognized the force of the evil impulse

"Each person is destined to give an account for all that his or her eye saw but has not eaten" (y. Kiddushin ch. 4, hal. 12, 66d).

a. Babylonian Amora at beginning of third century

b. Studied in Israel under Rabbi Judah the Prince and Rabbi Yochanan

c. Returned to Babylon to serve Jewish community during Diaspora

d. Established and headed academy at Sura (modern day Iraq)

e. Taught that God created the world and pronounced His work good. We will be judged not only for sins committed, but for pleasures neglected because of false religious abstinence

"Every person who is full of arrogance will in the end be humbled" (b. Sotah 5a).

a. 335-428 C.E.

b. Outstanding scholar and leader of community in Babylon

c. Head of academy at Sura

d. edited the Babylonian Talmud, supported by Rabina (last of Amoraic sages)

e. Stressed a humble attitude in personal conduct