Akiva and Rachel. One ofВ the greatest love stories ofВ allВ time

Gertcel Davydov

This book draws the reader’s attention to the story of high love that existed 2000 years ago between Rabbi Akiva and Rachel as described in the Talmud. Thanks to his wife Rachel, Akiva went from being an illiterate shepherd to becoming one of the greatest wise-men in Jewish history.This story took place approximately two thousand years ago and since then has been passed from generation to generation as an example of the idea of high love in a relationship between a man and a woman.

Akiva and Rachel

One ofВ the greatest love stories ofВ allВ time

Gertcel Davydov

Translator Joanna Dobson

© Gertcel Davydov, 2022

© Joanna Dobson, translation, 2022

ISBNВ 978-5-4485-1896-6

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

This book draws the reader’s attention to the story of high love that existed between Rabbi Akiva and Rachel as described in the Talmud. Thanks to his wife Rachel, Akiva went from being an illiterate shepherd to becoming one of the greatest wisemen in Jewish history.

This book tells the story of Akiva who, being born into a poor family, received no education. Akiva grew up to be a simple shepherd travelling from place to place doing various manual tasks. One day, destiny sends him a remarkable gift in the form of a meeting with a beautiful girl. The young, well-educated Rachel is the only daughter of Kalba Savua, the wealthiest man in Jerusalem. Akiva falls in love with her at first sight and the meeting changes his life to the core. Aware of the huge gap in age and social status that separates them, Akiva tries to put Rachel out of his mind and yet, he cannot help himself. Noticing the shepherd’s modesty and other fine qualities, Rachel agrees to become his wife on the condition that he study the wisdom of the Torah. Rachel’s father Kalba Savua is strongly opposed to their marriage. Rachel understands very well that it won’t be easy to transform an illiterate thirty-five year old man into a learned scholar but her heart and mind are firmly set. When Kalba Savua learns of his daughter’s betrothal, he drives her out of the house deprived of her inheritance.

This story took place approximately two thousand years ago and since then has been passed from generation toВ generation as an example ofВ the idea ofВ high love inВ aВ relationship between aВ man and aВ woman. As the plot develops, the book raises important themes like the necessity ofВ prayer, the illusory nature ofВ the world and the idea that there is no such thing as pure coincidence, everything is predetermined.

“All is foreseen, and freedom of choice is granted”

Rabbi Akiva (Mishna, Pirkei Avot, 3:15).

Chapter 1В Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

After the fall ofВ Jerusalem inВ the year 3830[1 - According toВ Jewish Chronology; 70В a.d.], when the Second Temple was burned down, the sages inВ Judea sought byВ all possible means toВ preserve centres ofВ Torah study. Some opposed the Jewish rebellion believing that the opportunity toВ continue studying the Torah was more important than political independence. Nonetheless, determined individual units opposed the Roman army which led toВ disaster. The city was almost totally destroyed and the survivors found themselves inВ incredibly challenging conditions.

Despite the fact that the sun had made its return journey across the sky and was already setting on the horizon, aВ sweltering heat still gripped the city. Looking out across the outskirts ofВ Jerusalem aВ traveller walked doggedly onwards determined toВ reach the market square before dark. He wandered for hours between narrow streets, each as similar as one drop ofВ water toВ another. Desperate toВ reach the market byВ late afternoon, he decided toВ wait out the heat taking refuge inВ the shadow ofВ aВ high tree. Having rested aВ while inВ the shade ofВ the broad-crowned tree, the man noticed aВ shop aВ little way off where aВ merchant was selling spices. He got up and quickly made his way towardsВ it.

An elderly