Christianity in the Babylonian Talmud: an introductory discussion -- Monasticism in the Persian Empire -- The Apophthegmata Patrum and rabbinic literature: form, style, and common themes -- The making of a monk-rabbi: the stories of R. Shimon bar Yohai in the cave -- Repentant whore, repentant rabbi: the story of Eleazar b. Dordya