Avot129

18:
Both sages were leading lights in the reconstituted Sanhedrin in Yavneh. When Rabban Yoĥanan ben-Zakkai died the presidency of the Sanhedrin reverted to a scion of the House of Hillel, Rabban Gamli'el (the second of that name, called Rabban Gamli'el of Yavneh to distinguish him from his grandfather, Rabban Gamli'el the Elder). Rabban Gamli'el was certainly autocratic in his presidency, but it is not clear to me whether this was because of his personal manner or because he felt that the times required him to impose halakhic uniformity on the variegated members of the Sanhedrin. We have already seen that he justified (at least to himself) the treatment meted out to Rabbi Eli'ezer by the acute need for such uniformity. Gentle and beloved Rabbi Yehoshu'a was not to be spared similar treatment. There had been at least two previous occasions when Rabban Gamli'el, acting in a very autocratic manner, had brought Rabbi Yehoshu'a to heel, as it were. (One of these occasions is recounted in Rosh ha-Shanah, Chapter Two, Mishnah Eight. But a seeming inconsequential matter brought about the final showdown. I have told the story before, but it was such a momentous event in the annals of the Sanhedrin at Yavneh that it bears telling once again.

19:
A young student (later to become very famous in his own right, Rabbi Shim'on ben-Yoĥai) caused the explosion by asking whether the Evening Service was compulsory or voluntary. Rabban Gamli'el forced a showdown in the full plenum, haughtily subjected Rabbi Yehoshu'a (who held a different view) to a humiliating 'recantation'. The assembled sages exploded and voted to depose Rabban Gamli'el from the presidency of the Sanhedrin.

20:
The problem now was whom to elect as his replacement. The most obvious candidate was Rabbi Yehoshu'a, but he could not be chosen because he was too 'interested' a party. The choice fell on a young scholar, Rabbi El'azar ben-Azaryah, of priestly stock, financially well-off and with no real enemies or rivals. On being offered the presidency El'azar said what would be considered today the most PC thing he could say: "I must first discuss this with my wife." She was against the whole idea, since she could easily see that he had been chosen not for his own merits but as a further punishment to Rabban Gamli'el. She pointed out that in all probability they would all make peace again very soon and Rabban Gamli'el will be restored to his hereditary position: "What will then become of you?" His youthful reply was that it was better to hold that honour even for only one day than never to have held it at all! His wife then pointed out that he was very young (which was probably why he was chosen – to rub salt into the wounds inflicted on Rabban Gamli'el, as it were).

21:
The outraged sages ousted Rabban Gamli'el from the presidency of the Sanhedrin and installed in his place Rabbi El'azar ben-Azaryah. On that day the sages took the opportunity to vote on matters that Rabban Gamli'el had opposed. Rabban Gamli'el accepted the chastisement and showed great fortitude in that he remained in the session of the Sanhedrin as a "simple" sage. It must have been terribly difficult for him to see measure after measure that he had so steadfastly opposed accepted by the now jubilant majority. As soon as he saw which way the wind was blowing Rabban Gamli'el realized that he had gone too far and that he must make his peace with Rabbi Yehoshu'a. So he made his way to the humble home of Rabbi Yehoshu'a.

To be continued.