Two rabbinical students were caught by the Rabbi gambling
and drinking in the company of undesirable characters --
even before the sun set on the evening of the Sabbath.

The
Rabbi called them into his study the next day.

Both confessed to having given in to weakness, and admitted
that they deserved punishment.

The Rabbi thought and then
went into his kitchen and brought back two bags of dried
peas.

"Put these in your shoes," he told them, "and walk on
them for a week, to remind yourself how hard life can be
when you turn away from the Law."

A few days later the two students met.

One was limping
terribly, had dark circles under his eyes, and looked very
tired.

The other seemed much as he had been the week before.

"Hey," said the first. "How is it that you are walking so
freely? Didn't you do as the Rabbi told us and put the peas
in your shoes?"

"Of course I did," said the other.

"How could I disobey the
Rabbi?"

He started to walk away, paused and then said "But I boiled them first."