Staying Faithful: Pesachim 100A

There is a moment in the story of Esther when Haman, the evil villian, knows he is doomed. The moment takes place in Queen Esther's quarters. Queen Esther has just revealed to the King that Haman's evil plan to destroy the Jews would doom both Esther and her entire family. The King, in a fury, stepped out into the garden. Haman threw himself on Esther's bed to beg for mercy. The King returned, spotted Haman on the bed, and thinks Haman's intention while lying on Esther's bed is less than honorable. The King says, "Does he [Haman] want to conquer the Queen, and with me here in the palace!"

Rabbi Yose, generations later, re-used the King's statement in a rather different context. Before we get to the re-use, here is some background: Rabbi Yose and Rabbi Yehuda had a disagreement over whether, in the case when one is eating a meal on Friday afternoon and the beginning of the sabbath occurs while the meal is ongoing, whether one must stop, cover the bread on the table and make kiddush. Rabbi Yose thought this unnecessary, while Rabbi Yehuda thought it obligatory to do so.

One day, in Acco, Rabban Shimon Ben Gamiliel and Rabbi Yose were having a meal on Friday afternoon, and the beggining of the sabbath arrived. Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel asked Rabbi Yose, "Shall we interrupt our meal and make thereby respect the words of our colleague Rabbi Yehuda?" Rabbi Yose replied, "Each and every day you prefer my position on questions of Jewish law to that of Rabbi Yehuda. Now you want to prefer Rabbi Yehuda's position on this issue? Will you try to conquer the Queen while I am in the house!"