Wise Fridays: After My Death

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Raba said to Rav Papa and to Rav Huna the son of Rav Joshua: When a legal decision of mine comes before you, and you see any objection to it, do not tear it up before you have seen me. If I have a valid reason for my decision I will tell it to you; and if not, I will withdraw.

After my death, you shall neither tear it up nor infer any law from it. You shall neither tear it up since, had I been there, it is possible that I might have told you the reason; nor infer any law from it — because a judge must be guided only by that which his eyes see.

Babylonian Talmud, Baba Batra 130b-131a

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