"It was said that Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa once saw the men of his city bringing burnt-offerings and peace-offerings up to the Temple in Jerusalem. He said to himself: They are all bringing burnt-offerings and peace-offerings up to Jerusalem, while I bring up nothing. What shall I do?
"Immediately, he went to the outskirts of his city and entered into an abandoned ruin of his city, where he found a certain stone. He emerged from the ruin, and painted the stone, transforming it into a beautiful work of art. He then declared, 'It is hereby incumbent upon me to bring the stone up to Jerusalem and consecrate it for the upkeep of the Temple.'
"He sought to hire some workers to transport his stone to Jerusalem for
him. He asked them, 'Will you bring this stone up to Jerusalem for
me?' They replied to him, 'Give us our fee of one hundred gold coins
and we will bring your stone up to Jerusalem for you.' He said to them,
'And from where do I have a hundred gold coins, or even fifty gold
coins to give you?' He could not find the amount of money at that time,
whereupon the workers immediately went on their way.
"Immediately, the Holy One, blessed is He, prepared for him five angels in the form of people, and they said to him, 'Our teacher, give us five sela'im and we will bring your stone up to Jerusalem, provided that you place your hand on the stone together with us. Rabbi Chanina placed his hand on the stone with them, and they were immediately found to be standing in Jerusalem!
"Rabbi Chanina sought to pay them their wage for transporting the stone, but could not find them. The incident was brought before the Sanhedrin, who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone in the Temple, and they said to Rabbi Chanina, 'Our teacher, it appears to us that ministering angels brought the stone up to Jerusalem for you.' Rabbi Chanina immediately gave the wage for which he had hired the angels to the Sages."
-- Midrash Rabbah, Shir haShirim 1.4
"Immediately, the Holy One, blessed is He, prepared for him five angels in the form of people, and they said to him, 'Our teacher, give us five sela'im and we will bring your stone up to Jerusalem, provided that you place your hand on the stone together with us. Rabbi Chanina placed his hand on the stone with them, and they were immediately found to be standing in Jerusalem!
"Rabbi Chanina sought to pay them their wage for transporting the stone, but could not find them. The incident was brought before the Sanhedrin, who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone in the Temple, and they said to Rabbi Chanina, 'Our teacher, it appears to us that ministering angels brought the stone up to Jerusalem for you.' Rabbi Chanina immediately gave the wage for which he had hired the angels to the Sages."
-- Midrash Rabbah, Shir haShirim 1.4
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