Rabbi Eleazar son of Rabbi Shimon and the Single Worm of Reproach

Rabbi Eleazar son of Rabbi Shimon grew weak, and his arm became uncovered, and he saw his wife laughing and weeping. He said to her: by your life, I know why you laughed and why you wept. You laughed when you said, happy was my portion in this world, happy that I clung to this righteous body; and you wept when you said, woe that this body goes to the worm. But it is not so. I am only sleeping. As for the worm, Heaven forbid that it should have power over me, except for one worm that is destined to gnaw behind my ear, because once I entered the synagogue and heard the voice of a man blaspheming, and it was in my power to bring him to judgment, and I did not do it. And when he died, he was laid to rest in Gush Halav. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai used to reveal himself to the people of Meron and say to them: this right eye that I had, I did not merit that it be given over to me. The people of Meron went, wishing to bring him. The people of Gush Halav came out after them with clubs and spears. Once, on the eve of the Day of Atonement, they said: now is the moment to bring him while they are occupied. When they went out beyond the town, two fiery serpents came walking before them. They said: the hour is right that we shall bring him. But when they reached the cave, two fiery serpents stood against them. They said: who will go in and bring him? His wife said: I will go up and bring him, for I have a sign in him. She went in, sought to bring him out, and found that one worm gnawing behind his ear. She moved to remove it, and heard a voice from heaven say: leave the master of his debt, that his debt may be repaid. They brought him and laid him beside his father. They said: from that hour Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai no longer revealed himself to the people of Meron.