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#1041780
Patur Aval Assur
Participant

Translation of the second part:

R’ Chanina Bar Popa was his [The Angel of Death as per Rashi] comrade. When he was to die, they said to the Angel of Death “go do his will”. He went to him and showed [himself] to him. He [R’ Chanina Bar Popa] said to him “leave me 30 days until I review my learning for they say ‘fortunate is the one who comes to here and his learning is in his hand'”. He left him. After 30 days he [the Angel of Death] went [and] he showed [himself] to him. He [R’ Chanina Bar Popa] said to him “give me your knife lest you frighten me on the way”. He said to him “You want to do to me as your friend [did to me]?” He said to him “Bring me a Torah Scroll and show me if there is anything written in it which I did not fulfill”. He said to him “Did you attach yourself with the Ba’alei Raasan [the people who had the disease that was mentioned in the previous story] and engage in Torah study?” And even so, when he died, a pillar of fire separated between him and the world, and we have a tradition that a fire only separates for one or two [people] in a generation. R’ Alexandri drew close to it [and] he said “do it [i.e. remove the fire] on account of the honor of the sages”. He disregarded him. “Do it on account of the honor of your father.” He disregarded him. “Do it on account of your own honor.” It departed.