Rome had issued three decrees against the Jews. They were forbidden to keep the Sabbath, forbidden to circumcise their sons, and forbidden to observe the laws of family purity. The decrees were aimed at the three commandments that most visibly marked a Jewish household as Jewish.
Reuben ben Istrubli did something unexpected. He cut his hair in the Roman style, dressed as a Gentile, and walked into the senate chamber. The senators did not recognize him. They took him for one of their own.
"If a man has an enemy," Reuben asked them, "does he want that enemy to be rich or poor?" "Poor," the senators answered at once. "Then why are you making the Jews rest every seventh day? You are handing them a day of leisure. Let them work seven days a week and grow exhausted and weak." The senators agreed. The decree against Sabbath was repealed.
"If a man has an enemy," Reuben continued, "does he want him strong or weak?" "Weak." "Then let them circumcise their sons. The pain weakens a boy in his first days. You are making them stronger by preventing it." The decree against circumcision fell.
One by one, Reuben reasoned the Romans out of their own legislation. When they discovered afterward that he was a Jew, they reenacted every decree in fury. The Jews needed an emissary who could go to Rome itself and argue the case before the emperor. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai was chosen, with Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Yossi beside him, because Shimon was known to be a worker of miracles. The Talmud preserves the story in tractate Me'ilah (17a–b).
The lesson of the Istrubli episode is blunt: sometimes the only way to save the commandments is to speak briefly in the language of the enemies who hate them.
their sons. Thereupon Reuben the son of Istrubli trimmed his hair as a Gentile, and went among the Roman senators and plied them with wise remonstrance. " If one," said he, " has an enemy, does he wish him to be poor or rich ? " To be poor," was the reply. " Then," he argued, " won't he be poorer if you prohibit him from working on the Sabbath ? "It is well said," observed the senators; and they at once abolished their decree respecting the Sabbath. Again he asked, " If one has an enemy, does he wish him to be weak or strong?" " Why, weak, to be sure," was the inevitable answer. " Then, " said he, " let the Jews circumcise their children, then will they be weakened." "The argument is good," said they, and the decree against circumsion was rescinded. Again he asked, "If one has an enemy, does he wish him to increase or decrease?" "To decrease, of course," said they. In response to his argument the decree against catamenia was accordingly abolished. When, however, they found out that he was a Jew, they at once re-enacted the decrees they had canceled. Upon this the question arose who should go to Rome and appeal against these enactments. It was resolved that Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, who was reputed experienced in miracles, should go, accompanied by Rabbi Elazar, the son of Rabbi Yossi.... As they journeyed along, the question was proposed to them, " Whence is it proved that the blood of a reptile is unclean ? " Rabbi Elazar replied with a curl of the lip, and quoted Lev. ii. 29. " And these shall be unclean unto you." Rabbi Shimon said unto him, " By the curl of thy lip art thou recognizable as a disciple of the wise ! May the son never return to his father ! " for he was annoyed that he should presume to teach a Halachah in his presence, and then and there he condemned him to death. (See Berachoth, fol. 31, col. 2.) Thereupon Ben Temalion (an evil sprite or imp) came, and greeting him, said, " Do ye wish me to accompany you?" Rabbi Shimon wept and said, "Alas ! a maid-servant of my ancestor (Abraham) was assisted by three angels, and I have not one to attend me ! However, let a miracle be worked for us anyhow." Then the evil spirit entered into the Emperor's daughter, and when the Rabbi was called in to
