Rav Ḥanan of Tzippori interpreted the verse regarding the performance of acts of kindness. The way of the world is that ten men enter the house of a mourner and not one of them is able to open his mouth and recite the blessing of the mourners. When one of them opens his mouth and recites the blessing, he is comparable to “a lily among the thorns.” The way of the world is that ten men enter the synagogue and not one of them is able to recite the blessings before Shema and pass before the ark.7Meaning, to recite the Amida prayer as the prayer leader.
When one of them knows, he is comparable to “a lily among the thorns.” Rabbi Elazar went to a certain place. They said to him: ‘Recite the blessings before Shema.’ He said to them: ‘I am not well-versed.’ ‘Pass before the ark.’
He said to them: ‘I am not well-versed.’ They said: ‘Is this Rabbi Elazar? Is this the one in whom you take pride? It is for naught that they call him rabbi.’
He turned pale and he went to his teacher Rabbi Akiva. [Rabbi Akiva] said to him: ‘Why does your face look ill?’ He related the incident to him and he said to him: ‘Would my master like to teach me?’ He said to him: ‘Yes.’ He taught him.
Some time later, and he went to that place. They said to him: ‘Recite the blessings before Shema.’ He recited them. ‘Pass before the ark.’ He passed.
They said: ‘Rabbi Elazar has been fortified,’ and they called him Rabbi Elazar the strong. Rabbi Yona would teach his students the blessing of the mourners, saying: They should be prepared in every circumstance.