Two Colleagues in Prison

Rebbi Yishmael and Raban Shimon ben Gamliel were imprisoned together, and Rebbi Shimon began to weep. Rebbi Yishmael said to him, “Soon you will be among the holy ones in the next world. Why are you crying?”

Rebbi Shimon answered, “I am not crying because I am going to die, but because I am being executed like a Shabbos desecrator, an idol worshiper or a murderer.” Rebbi Yishmael suggested that perhaps, while Rebbi Shimon was eating or resting, a woman had come to ask whether she was considered a niddah (ritually impure) and his attendants had not let her in to disturb him. Or perhaps a poor man had knocked on the door while he was eating and had not been admitted. Rebbi Shimon replied that he was extremely careful in these matters. Rebbi Yishmael then suggested that perhaps he had felt pride while he was teaching, and Rebbi Shimon again replied that he took care not to have proud thoughts after he preached.

Some tell the story the other way around, with Rebbi Yishmael weeping and Rebbi Shimon speaking these words to him.