The Non-Jew Who Ate the Korban Pesach

There was a non-Jew who would go to Yerushalayim every year disguised as a Jew and partake of the Korban Pesach. One year, he boasted to Rabbi Yehudah ben Besaira that although the Torah prohibits a non-Jew from eating the korban Pesach, he eats it every year. Rabbi Yehudah ben Besaira asked him whether he ever ate the fatty tail. When the non-Jew answered that he had not, Rabbi Yehudah ben Besaira slyly told him that the next time he joins a group for the korban Pesach he should ask for that part.

The next Pesach, the non-Jew indeed asked for the tail. He complained that he paid as much as all the others in the group and didn’t get the best part. The other members of the group were surprised at this request since the korban Pesach is a sheep and the tail is burnt on the Mizbai’ach. They asked him to identify the person who told him to ask for the tail. He responded that it was Rabbi Yehudah ben Besaira.

The members of the group realized that there was something fishy going on. They investigated and discovered his true identity, and he was never again able to disguise himself as a Jew. They sent a message to Rabbi Yehudah ben Besaira, “Peace to you, Rabbi Yehudah ben Besaira! You sit in Netzivin, and your net is spread in Yerushalayim.”