Jesus in the Talmud

162 Notes to Chapter 542. b BM 59b.43. Another magical performance by R. Eliezer is preserved in b Sanh 68a.There, upon the request of his colleague R. Aqiva to teach him the art of themagical planting of cucumbers, Eliezer has a field covered with cucumbersby one magical word, and the cucumbers collected into one heap byanother.44. The prooftext used by R. Yirmeya is anything but convincing: in its originalbiblical context it just says the opposite.45. Lit. “they blessed him,” a euphemism for “excommunicated him.”46. Aqiva appeared before him dressed in the black garments of the mourner(this was his “discreet” hint at what had happened).47. b BM 59b.48. b Sanh 68a.Chapter 5Healing in the Name of Jesus1. See above, p. 32.2. t Shab 7:23 (following Ms. Erfurt in the Zuckermandel edition; Ms. Viennareads “they pass [a remedy] over the belly (me