the number of times I have said “and it was for this that ________ was thrown out of the house of study” in meetings only to get a round of blank stares
If a rabbi is thrown out of the House of Study by a distance within 50 cubits, he is still welcome to return there. If he is thrown farther than 50 cubits from the House of Study, he is banished and may never return to it.
Rabbi Balmalocha asked: If the rabbi is thrown out and lands with one foot within 50 cubits and one foot outside of it, what is the law?
It was for this question that Rabbi Balmalocha was thrown 50 cubits out of the House of Study, then shoved one cubit farther for good measure.
