Yosef HaBavli's Face Lights Up with Joy
When Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua answers his question, Yosef the Babylonian beams with joy, and his teacher weeps: happy are those to whom Torah is so dear.
When Rebbe Yehuda HaNasi was finally accepted among the students of Rebbe Elazar ben Shamua, he witnessed the following incident: Yosef the Babylonian was sitting before Rebbe Elazar ben Shamua when Yosef the Babylonian said to him, “My teacher, with regard to one who slaughters an offering with the intention to leave some of its blood for the next day, what is the halachah? Does that intention invalidate the offering?”
Rebbe Elazar ben Shamua said to him, “I hold that the offering is fit, but Rabbi Eliezer deems it unfit.” Yosef the Babylonian’s face lit up with joy. Rebbe Elazar ben Shamua’s eyes streamed with tears, and he said. “Happy are you, Torah scholars, for whom matters of Torah are exceedingly dear.”
Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua recited this verse about Yosef the Babylonian: “Mah ahavti Torasecha … O, how I love Your Torah; it is my meditation all the day.” (Psalms 119:97)