A Recipe for Illness

Aramaic

R. Abahu [said] in the name of R. Yoḥanan: Therefore, tsafdina’ [or, tsifduna’] illness constitutes danger [to life].

[Once] R. Yoḥanan suffered from this [illness], and he was treated by the daughter of Domitianus [or, Timtinis] of Tiberias. On the twilight eve [of the Sabbath], he went up to her and asked, “Will I need anything [for my cure] for tomorrow?”

She said to him, “No. But should you [feel you] need anything, [take] date pits, in halves and roasted. (And some say: [pits of] Nicolaus [dates].) And the husk of barley, and dried excrement of a nursing infant. Pulverize and paste [the remedy to the affected parts]. But do not say anything [i.e., tell this] to anyone!”

[However,] the next day he went [out] and taught it in public [or, in the study house]. Some say: she strangled herself. And some say: she converted.

You learn from this three [things]. You learn from this that tsafdina’ [illness] constitutes danger [to life]. And you learn from this that one may heal everything from the lips inward [on the Sabbath, because of possible life-threatening effects]. And you learn from it what R. Jacob bar Aḥa said in the name of R. Yoḥanan: If the physician is an expert, [the healing] is permitted.

Translated by Markham J. Geller and Lennart Lehmhaus.