Rav Yishmael ben Elisha

Boy, it's been quiet here!
Has anyone else noticed (as someone pointed out to me) that Rav Yishmael ben Elisha was a cohen gadol that apparently lived through the time of the churbon.
In meseches brachos 7a, we learned about Rav Yishmael ben Elisha's famous story (now a popular song): "Paam Achas nichnasti l'haktir k'tores lifnei v'lifnim etc." Recently in meseches shabbos 12b, we learned that Rav Yishmael ben Elisha was the one who was unconcerned about chazal's takana not to read on shabbos by candlelight, and said "Ani Ekrah v'lo Ateh". According to the second version of the story, Rav Yishmael was actually nichshal in Isur shabbos, and wrote in his notebook: "when the bais hamikdash will be *rebuilt*, I will bring a fat chatos.