Rav Heschel and the Visit From Rabbi Yochanan
Rav Heschel boasts that Rabbi Yochanan must now carry his clothes. His candle goes out, and the Shach finds an old man who says he is Rabbi Yochanan.
There is an intriguing incident recorded in the Sefer Chemda Genuza. HaGaon Rebbe Heschel (1578-1648) was learning the aforementioned Mishnah. He came up with an explanation of the Mishnah by which the entire Mishnah represents one opinion. At that point, Rebbe Heschel remarked, “Now Rebbe Yochanan can fulfill his words” (i.e., he can carry my clothes after me to the bathhouse). Immediately, his candle blew out. He asked his talmid, Rav Shabbatai HaKohen (1621-1662), also known as the Shach, to relight the candle at one of the neighbor’s houses. The Shach was surprised to find that all the houses were dark, save one. He approached the last house and found an old man studying by candlelight. When the Shach approached him, the man said, “I am Rebbe Yochanan. Tell your rebbe that his explanation is in error for such and such reason. Further, tell your rebbe that as a punishment for speaking disparagingly, he should choose to die without children or choose to die without publishing a sefer.” Rebbe Heschel chose to die without publishing a sefer.