An original Torah thought

Hi,

"They asked R' Eliezer: Will so-and-so enter the next world? He replied: You asked me about this other person?

"They asked: Is a shepherd obligated to save a lamb from a lion? He replied: You only asked about the lamb?

"They asked: Is one obligated to save the shepherd from a lion? He replied: You only asked about the shepherd?

"They asked: May a mamzer inherit? He replied: May a mamzer perform yibbum?

"They asked: May one line his home with lime today [after the destruction of the Temple]? He replied: May one line a grave with lime today?

"He did not want to lead them afield verbally, but he never said that which he had not heard from his rebbe."

(Talmud, Yoma 66b)

To which the Sfat Emet commented:
"It appears that this was specifically while their rebbe lived; they avoided this as a stringency, for their rebbe's honour, even when it was legally permitted. After their deaths, though, the students taught and judged."

(R' Yehudah Leib Alter, Sfat Emet to Yoma 66b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai