Foretold and Mourned

The deaths of Rebbi Shimon and Rebbi Yishmael had been foretold. Before he died, and before the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, Shmuel HaKatan predicted, “Shimon and Yishmael will die by the sword, and their colleagues are destined to be murdered.”

When Rebbi Akiva and Rebbi Yehudah ben Bava (or Beseira) heard of the deaths of Rebbi Shimon and Rebbi Yishmael, they rose, put on sackcloth and tore their garments in mourning. They said, “If there was any good in the world, it was in the merit of Rebbi Shimon and Rebbi Yishmael. Great misfortunes will befall the world.”