RABBI AKIVA: FROM SHEPHERD TO SCHOLAR
A Story for Lag BaOmer

Akiva ben Yoseph was one of the greatest Rabbis who ever lived. He was born about 17 years before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. His father Yoseph was poor and uneducated, as his father had been before him and his grandfather before that. As a child Akiva received no education. Instead of attending school, the boy helped to support his family by taking care of their sheep.

As a young man, Akiva worked as a shepherd for Kalba Savua, one of the richest men in Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel. Kalba Savua had a beautiful daughter name Rachel. One day Rachel went out into the field to inspect her father's sheep. Akiva, the poor shepherd, fell in love with Rachel instantly. And you can imagine how happy he was when Rachel returned to the field the next day, and then again the day after that!

Rachel returned, you see, because she had fallen in love as well.

At last, after many days, Akiva said, "Rachel, I know that you are the daughter of a rich man and I am only a poor shepherd, but I can no longer remain silent and hide my love! Nothing will make me happy unless you consent to be my wife."

Rachel replied that she would marry him only if he agreed to study Torah and get a Jewish education. This made Akiva very sad. How could he go to school now? He was too old, and how would it be possible for him to study Torah when he did not even know how to read and write?

One day as Akiva sadly sat beside a brook while tending his sheep, he noticed a large stone with a deep hole in it. What had formed the hole in the rock, he wondered. He looked closely and saw that the hole in the rock was in a spot where the water from the brook ran over it. He realized that the constant pressure of the water was what had worn away part of the rock. Amazing, he thought to himself, that something as soft as water could make a hole in something as hard as stone. And all it took was time  a great deal of time.

And then Akiva realized that even though he was no longer a child, and had no formal education, that if he devoted himself to the study of Torah he would be able to learn. All he needed was the time to study.

When Kalba Savua found out that his beautiful, rich daughter had agreed to marry a poor, uneducated shepherd, he was furious. He refused to give the couple any financial support, refused to provide his daughter Rachel with a dowry, and told her he never wished to see her again.

In spite of this, Rachel and Akiva were married, so great was their love for one another. But they were very poor. Akiva, no longer a shepherd for his father -inlaw's sheep, barely earned a living as a woodchopper. He certainly had no time to study, in spite of his promise to his wife. They soon became parents, and when their first born was old enough to attend school, Akiva went with him. It didn't take long for the teachers to discover that he had great talent for study. They encouraged Akiva to devote himself to learning.

"No sacrifice is too great," said his wife Rachel. "I will support our family while you study at the academy of one of the great Rabbis."

And so it happened. Akiva attended several schools of learning, and after many years became a student of Joshua ben Hananya, a great scholar.

One day Rachel heard that Akiva didn't even have enough money to buy candies. Because of this he studied in the dark, thus spoiling his eyesight. Quickly Rachel cut off her beautiful long hair, sold it in the marketplace and sent the money to Akiva.

Akiva became a great scholar, and his fame spread throughout the country. The lowly shepherd became one of Israel's most beloved Rabbis.

The day came when Rabbi Akiva felt it was time to return to his wife Rachel. But he did not go alone. Twelve thousand of his faithful students came along with him. When it became known that the great Rabbi Akiva was coming, all the people in the village went out to meet and welcome him.

Among the people was Rachel, his good, hardworking wife. Some students went ahead of the Rabbi to clear the way for him. They saw a poor woman in old clothes standing in the way.

"Move out of the way, poor woman", they shouted, "make way for the great Rabbi."

At this very moment Rabbi Akiva appeared and said: "This is my wife, Rachel. She is the one who made me study the Torah. Without her help I would not have become a Rabbi and you would not be my students."

With these words Rabbi Akiva embraced Rachel and together they walked into the village where they were joyfully welcomed. Meanwhile Kalba Savua had become a very unhappy man. He was still very rich but he deeply regretted his oath never to set eyes on Rachel. When Kalba Savua heard that a great Rabbi had come to the village he decided to go ask him how to undo his oath. Of course, he did not know that the great Rabbi Akiva was the shepherd who had married his daughter.

Rabbi Akiva did not show that he recognized Kalba Savua. He listened to Kalba Savua's story carefully and then asked: "If you find that your daughter is still married to the poor shepherd will you forgive her and take her back into your house?

"Oh yes, yes," answered Kalba Savua, "I shall be only too happy to have both of them live with me."

Akiva couldn't stand it any longer. "Dear father", said Rabbi Akiva, "I am Akiva, your former shepherd, and your oath is null and void."

Happily Kalba Savua embraced Rachel and Akiva. He shared his wealth with them and the three of them lived together very happily.

Those were the days when Bar Kochva, the great Jewish leader, called for revolt against the Romans who ruled the land of Israel. Akiva and his many pupils joined Bar Kochva and fought as part of the rebellion. This is the reason we remember Rabbi Akiva not only as a wise Rabbi but also as a courageous fighter.