The Visit of Rebbi Chanina ben Tardyon

When Rebbi Yossi ben Kisma became ill, Rebbi Chanina ben Tardyon came to visit him. Rebbi Yossi used the opportunity to rebuke him for openly defying the Roman ban on Torah study, by giving public lectures while holding a sefer Torah in his arms. He pointed out that the Romans had been given rulership over the nation from Heaven, as was obvious from the fact that they had been able to destroy the Beis Hamikdash and kill many righteous Jews.

Rebbi Chanina answered that from Heaven they would have mercy on him. Rebbi Yossi responded, "I am saying words of logic, and you are saying that from Heaven they will have mercy. I would not be surprised if they burn you together with the sefer Torah."

A few days later Rebbi Yossi ben Kisma passed away. His funeral in Meron was attended by all the important Romans, who eulogized him greatly. On their way back they caught Rebbi Chanina ben Tardyon teaching Torah publicly with a sefer Torah in his arms, and they sentenced him to be burned to death.