Rabbi Akiba was born in the year 132 CE. He is known as one of the wisest and greatest teachers of his time, and still learnt about today. His origins were not remarkable nor appreciated by the men of his time.
Rabbi Akiva represents every person whose life can start out small, but end in greatness. He lacked pedigree in society as he was a descendent of a convert. He had no nobility or education.
So what made this man into a well known legend? In legend I mean the man was a scholar so great that he would be compared to Moses' stature in terms of learning. This was not to even to begin until his 40th year of life.
His religious epiphany began so late in life that he had to go with his young child (from his first marriage) to school in order to learn how to read and write.
Not only was he unlearned, but he was full of resentment of those who were learned. His ignorance and hatred was so great of the learned ones that it is recorded of him saying that if he had the chance he would have bitten them like a wild donkey.
But then one day he saw water dripping onto a rock. His great mind within him contemplated that the water had eroded it. The verse says, “Water wears down rock”. This became Rabbi Akiva’s motto. If water can wear down a stone, Akiva can become a scholar…
Illiterate and only able to procure a job as a shepherd; Akiva worked his way up to became the chief shepherd to one of the wealthiest men in the country. That man's name was Kalba Savuah.
As Akiva worked, he caught the eye of Kalba's daughter. Her name was Rachel and she was able to look past the visage of a simple shepherd. As she spoke to him, she was impressed by his character. In fact she was so impressed with his character that she agreed to marry him if he studied for 12 years. It didn't matter to her that at the time he was uneducated and lacked nobility. She saw raw potential in him. This was to be Akiva's second marriage as his first wife allegedly passed away.
When Kalba heard of the engagement and secret marriage he disinherited the both of them, where the couple lived in dire poverty. They made their home in a barn and slept on straw. One night as Akiva picked the straw out of his wife's hair. A legend says that Elijah the prophet came in the form of a pauper. Elijah, acting as a poor man; asked if he could borrow some straw so that his wife could feel more comfortable after giving birth. Once the two realized that there are even poorer people then them, Rachel told Akiva to start learning.
Rachel was just as pure as Akiva. She continued to believe in him and encouraged him to leave home to study. She told him that he should leave for 12 years and then return.
And so he did! Rachel moved in with Akiva's mother and worked to support herself and her husband. She even sent half her wages to Akiva.
After intense learning and 12 years later, Akiva began his journey home. As soon as he reached home he overheard his wife saying to a neighbor that he is successful at what he is doing. She even wished he would do it for another 12 years to see how even greater he could become. Akiva then turned around and went back to studying.
In 24 years he worked his way upwards under the greatest scholars of his time. Akiva eventually became on par or even greater than his own teachers. Rabbi Akiva literally became the water that chipped away at the rock.
After 24 years, he returned home with 24,000 students, and was head of the top learning centers in the land of Israel.
Although his reputation preceded him, Kalba Savua did not know that the great man coming to town was his son-in-law. To his shock and dismay he became ashamed of his vow to disinherit his daughter and him.
“Had you known that her husband would become a great man, would you have vowed?” Rabbi Akiva asked him.
“Why, if he even knew one chapter, even one law!” Kalba Savua answered.
Rabbi Akiva then said, “I am him.”
He bowed and kissed him on his feet, and gave him half his assets. Akiva was now rich and could give his wife everything she sacrificed for.
Unfortunately there isn't much more known about Rabbi Akiva's wife. Akiva always knew and professed that if it weren't for her, he and his students would never be there. With no dates given, Rachel eventually dies.
(Rachel's Tomb in Tiberius)
Rabbi Akiva does eventually remarry a Roman convert. During this period of time, the Romans were in control and occupied the land. Please take note that this was ancient ISRAEL, which was then renamed to Palestine (by the conqueror's the Roman's). There were intense edicts to eliminate all learning and practice of monotheism. As a defender in his learning and beliefs Rabbi Akiva took part in the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132-6.
In 95–96 CE, Akiva suffered martyrdom on account of his transgression of the Roman Ruler Hadrian's edicts against the practice and the teaching of Judaism. He was sentenced to die by Tyrannus Rufus. The mode of execution was combing; a brutal Roman torture in which the victim's skin was flayed with iron combs.
As he was dying he told his only students left that he agonized over a certain verse in the bible.
His question was how could he love Gd with all his heart and all his soul. Could he really love Gd even if his soul were to be taken? In that moment he recited “the Lord is one” and he died.
Rabbi Akiva is not only known for his great mind, but he is also known for his meditative techniques. Some of these techniques allegedly allowed the greatest souls to literally traverse in heaven while still alive on earth.
Four entered the Orchard (Pardes). They were Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher [literally, "the Other", referring to Elisha ben Abuya], and Rabbi Akiva.
Rabbi Akiva who meditated often knew of the hazards of going to the Orchard. He warned them, "When you enter near the stone of pure marble, do not say 'water, water,' since )there is actually no water there at all, and) it is written, 'He who speaks falsehood will not be established before My eyes' (Psalms 101:7)."
Ben Azzai gazed and died. His soul refused to leave heaven and go back to Earth. Regarding him it is written, "Precious in G‑d's eyes is the death of His pious ones" (Psalms 116:15).
Ben Zoma gazed and was stricken and lost his mind. Regarding him it is written, "You have found honey, eat moderately lest you bloat yourself and vomit it". (Proverbs 25:16)
Acher gazed and saw the whole matrix of life. Since Gd is anything and everything what is the point of doing anything? So he stopped believing and became a heretic.
Rabbi Akiva arived in peace and returned in peace.
There is a story that Moses asked Gd for a vision of all the future leaders of the nation. Moses sees Rabbi Akiva and marvels at a man who is so great in his learning and meditative techniques. Moses asks Gd to show him the reward for such a person. So Gd proceeds and shows Moses Rabbi Akiva being tortured to death. Stunned, Moses asked "this is the reward?" However, it wasn't Akiva's death that was really being shown. It was his last dying words of him pledging his entire body and soul back to his creator. If indeed Rabbi Akiva already travelled from heaven and back, we can assume his reward is greater than any of us can imagine.
(Rabbi Akiva's grave in Tiberius)
I reposted this because it means a lot to me, especially since a close relative is named after the famed Rabbi. History is often forgotten, and saint's and sages or whatever you want to call them are across all walks of religion's and cultures. This is for my new followers as well as old. I checked back over a year ago when I had 500 followers. My new and only followers had no idea I had written this. Nobody visits old blog posts, but it is a testament to how much time and energy I have devoted to the steemit platform. Hope you enjoy!