Rabbi Akiva, One of the key figures in the formative period of rabbinic Judaism.
Background
Akiva’s early history is shrouded in legend. Traditionally the son of a proselyte, he was a poor and ignorant youth who earned his living as a shepherd for the rich landowner Ben Kalba Sabua. Akiva married his daughter, Rachel, who encouraged him to start studying when he was forty and even sold her hair to find money forfood. His father-in-law was enraged that his daughter had married Akiva and refused to recognize their marriage. They lived in poverty but Rachel uncomplainingly looked after the children while he went away to study at the academies of famous rabbis. According to the story, he returned after twenty-four years, accompanied by thousands of disciples, to whom he proclaimed that he and they owed everything to Rachel.
Career
Whatever the historical accuracy of these traditions, Akiva had, before the end of the century, become one of the outstanding rabbinic authorities and had established a distinguished academy at Benei Berak, which produced nearly all the leading rabbis of the next generation. By this time his father-in-law was reconciled and Akiva enjoyed wealth as well as wisdom. He was regarded as one of the heads of the Jewish community in Eretz Israel on whose behalf he traveled extensively including a mission to Rome in 95 CE to obtain from the Emperor Domitian the cancellation of anti-Jewish legislation.
In his time, Judaism was guided by a vast accumulation of oral traditions. These were collected, organized according to subject matter, and committed to writing by Akiva, thereby laying the foundation for the Mishnah, the authoritative code of Judah ha-Nasi, which in turn was the basis of the Talmud. In particular he held that every word, letter, and mark in the Bible was sacred and possessed a meaning. (A legend related that Moses in heaven saw God making crowns for the letters of the Torah and asked for the reason. God replied, “A man called Akiva will arise who will deduce rules of Jewish law from every curve and crown on these letters.”)
Akiva derived laws from even the apparently most unimportant and redundant words of the Bible, seeking to demonstrate how the written law — the Bible — contained the oral tradition. This approach was a matter of controversy with another great scholar. Rabbi Ishmael ben Elisha, who insisted that the Bible speaks in human language and should be understood through its plain meanings and not through the fanciful, homiletic approach expounded by Akiva. Akiva was also one of the pioneers of Jewish mysticism who - in the guarded words of the rabbis - “entered the heavenly garden and emerged unscathed.”
After the Jerusalem Temple had been destroyed (70 CE) and Jewish independence lost, Akiva was convinced that national redemption would ensue.
In the year 132, following measures by the Roman Emperor Hadrian that incensed the Jewish population, a revolt broke out under Simeon bar-Kokliba that achieved impressive initial successes. It is thought that Akiva was one of the religious forces behind the rebellion. Certainly he enthusiastically supported it and even hailed Bar-Kokhba as the potential messiah, proclaiming “A star has stepped out of Jacob" (hence the epithet “Bar-Kokhba.” i.e., “son of a star,” forthe leader, whose real name was Bar Kosiba). After three years of bitter fighting, the rebellion was quelled by the Romans with much cruelty. Hadrian issued a series of edicts aiming at the elimination of Judaism, including a ban on study of the Torah, which was ignored by Akiva.
Imprisoned by the Romans, he continued to teach his pupils in devious ways, even while in prison. Eventually Akiva, now in his nineties, was sentenced to be executed in Caesarea.
The story goes that he insisted on reciting the Shema even while his persecutors were tearing his flesh with iron combs. He was asked how he could continue to pray while in agony and answered: “All my life, I have sought to serve God with all my heart, all my soul, and all my might [as is written in the Shema. cf. Deut. 6:5]. Now I realize the meaning of serving God 'with all my soul,’ that is even though he is taking away my life.” The connection of the Shema with the great martyr led to its recitation being adopted as a final confession of faith for later Jewish martyrs and for Jews on their deathbeds.
Views
Quotations:
• Who is wealthy? The man with a virtuous wife.
• “Love your neighbor as yourself’ is the great principle of the Torah.
• Whatever God does is for the best.
• Tradition is a protection [“fence“] for Torah; tithes are a protection for wealth; vows for abstinence; silence for wisdom.
• Before you taste anything, recite a benediction.
• He who sheds blood impairs the divine image.
• If a husband and wife are worthy, the Shekhinah [divine presence]abides with them; if they are not, fire consumes them.
• Everything is foreseen, yet freedom of choice is granted. The world is judged favorably, yet all depends on the preponderance of good deeds.
• Whoever neglects to visit a sick person is like one who sheds blood.
• Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of God.
• Beware of unsolicited advice.
• The judge who passes sentence must fast on the day of execution.
• As a house implies a builder, a dress a weaver, a door a carpenter, so the world proclaims God. its Creator.
• Take your place a little below your rank until you are asked to move up; it is better to be told “come up higher” than “move down.”
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
His innovativeness in the field of Jewish law led to the saying, “What was not revealed to Moses was discovered by Akiva.”