Today’s daf includes a story about seafaring sages, falling stars and starving students. The story begins with two rabbis who were traveling on a long sea voyage. The first, Rabban Gamliel, was the leader of the Sanhedrin, the wealthy scion of an illustrious Jewish family and an esteemed political figure who traveled frequently on diplomatic missions. Rabbi Yehoshua, in contrast, was in charge of his own rabbinical academy in the town of Peki’in; he was presumably traveling to raise funds for his school. Ironically, when there was trouble on the high seas, it was not the frequent traveler Rabban Gamliel, but rather his rabbinic companion, who was more prepared.
It seems that Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua packed very differently for their voyage. Rabban Gamliel packed lightly. He didn’t want to bother checking any baggage, as it were, so he brought enough bread to last a few days, confident it would suffice. Rabbi Yehoshua, in contrast, was prepared for every eventuality: He packed not just bread, but also enough flour in case he should have to bake during the voyage. And indeed, when the ship was delayed, it was Rabbi Yehoshua who came to Rabban Gamliel’s aid and shared his flour with his fellow voyager.
Rabban Gamliel was impressed by his traveling companion’s preparedness.
He said to him: Did you know that we would have so substantial a delay that you brought flour? Rabbi Yehoshua said to Rabban Gamliel: There is one star that rises once in 70 years and misleads sailors. And I said: Perhaps it will rise and mislead us.
Rabbi Yehoshua explained that since he traveled only infrequently, he had wanted to be prepared for every eventuality. As a rabbi and teacher, he was no stranger to hunger. He led a far less comfortable life than the wealthy Rabban Gamliel and he wanted to be sure that he would have enough food in case of a mishap — in this case, a star that might lead the sailors astray. According to the commentary of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, the star in question may have been Halley’s Comet, visible once in 76 years. If so, this would be the first documented account of the comet.
Rabban Gamliel was taken aback by Rabbi Yehoshua’s response. Why should such a wise scholar—one who is knowledgeable not just in Torah but also, apparently, in astronomy and worldly matters—have to waste his time traveling by sea? Rabbi Yehoshua could only sigh. Rabban Gamliel, as the wealthy leader of the Jewish community in Israel, was wildly out of touch with how ordinary people lived.
Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: Before you wonder about me, wonder about two students that you have on dry land, Rabbi Elazar Hisma and Rabbi Yohanan ben Gudgeda, who know how to calculate how many drops there are in the sea, and yet they have neither bread to eat nor a garment to wear. Rabban Gamliel made up his mind to seat them at the head of the academy.
Rabbi Yehoshua was traveling to raise funds for his academy, so he decided to use the moment to his advantage. He told Rabban Gamliel about two of his students who were even wiser and more worldly. It was a well-timed fundraising pitch, and Rabban Gamliel responded immediately, resolving that when he returned, he would find jobs for these two impoverished students.
When Rabban Gamliel returned to Israel, he attempted to make good on his promise, summoning the two students in the hope of appointing them to their new positions. But the students did not come. Then he summoned them again, and they came, reluctantly. Rabban Gamliel rebuked them.
He said to them: Do you think that by offering you this position, I am granting you authority? I’m granting you servitude.
Rabban Gamliel wanted them to know that becoming leaders is not about power or honor, but about public service.
This story appears in the context of the Talmud’s discussion of a mishnah about the special sacrifice that must be brought by a leader who sins. The Talmud seems to be teaching that leaders must assume responsibility for and be accountable to the people they serve. Rabban Gamliel, as leader of the Jewish community, must be aware of the needs of poor students who are unable to support themselves. And the two impoverished rabbinical pupils must be aware that their appointment as leaders carries with it the weight of responsibility for the Torah learning of others. A truly excellent leader, one who appreciates what leadership is really about, may indeed be as rare as Halley’s Comet.
Read all of Horayot 10 on Sefaria.
This piece originally appeared in a My Jewish Learning Daf Yomi email newsletter sent on September 11, 2025. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, sign up here.
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