When R’ Meir died, the composers of parables disappeared [from the world].  When Ben Azzai died, the diligent ones disappeared. When Ben Zoma died, the exegetes disappeared.  When R’ Yehoshua died, goodness ceased from the world.  When Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel died, the locust came and troubles increased.  When R’ Elazar ben Azariah died, wealth ceased from among the Sages.  When R’ Akiva died, the glory of the Torah disappeared. When R’ Chanina ben Dosa died, men of [great] deeds disappeared.  When R’ Yose the Lesser died, pious ones ceased; and why was he called “the Lesser”? Because he was the least of the pious ones.  When Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai died, the splendor of wisdom disappeared.  When Rabban Gamliel the Elder died, the glory of the Torah disap-peared, and purity and abstention died. When R’ Yishmael ben Pavi died, the splendor of the Kehunah disappeared.  When Rabbi [Yehudah HaNasi) died, humility and fear of sin disappeared.  R’ Pinchas ben Yair says: With the destruction of the Temple, scholars and high-born men became ashamed, and their faces have been hidden, and men of merit have been impoverished, strong-arm men and slanderers have become powerful, and there is no one to investigate, seek or inquire. On whom can we rely? [Only] on our Father in Heaven.  R’ Eliezer the Great says: From the day that the Temple was destroyed, scholars became like school teachers, and schoolteachers like synagogue attendants, and synagogue attendants like common people, and the common people continue to degenerate, and no one seeks [to halt this]. On whom can we rely? [Only] on our Father in Heaven.  With the footsteps of the Messiah insolence will increase, and inflation will soar, the vine will give its fruit but wine will be dear, and the government will turn to heresy, and there will be no rebuke, the meeting place [of sages] will be used for immorality, and the Galilee will be destroyed and the Gavlan desolated, and the border dwellers will wander about from city to city but will not be pitied, the knowledge of scholars will be lost, those who fear sin will be despised, and the truth will be hidden; youths will shame old men and old men will stand up for youngsters; [it will be a time when] a son shames his father, a daughter rebels against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, [and] a man’s ene-mies are the members of his household (Micah 7:6); the face of the generation will be like the face of the dog; [and] the son is not ashamed before his father. On whom can we rely? [Only] on our Father in Heaven.  R’ Pinchas ben Yair says: Alacrity brings to cleanliness; cleanliness brings to purity; purity brings to abstention; abstention brings to holiness; holiness brings to humility; humility brings to fear of sin; fear of sin brings to saintli- ness; saintliness brings to Divine inspiration; Di-vine inspiration brings to the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead will be brought about by Elijah, who is remembered for good, Amen.