Rabbi Akiva’s legendary wife was Rachel. The daughter of a wealthy magnate named Kalba Savua, she recognized the immense, hidden potential of an uneducated shepherd and married him on the condition that he devote his life to studying Torah. Her ultimate self-sacrifice enabled him to become the greatest sage of his generation.
Because he didn’t even know the alphabet, Akiva went to a local school with his young son to start from scratch. A famous legend details what inspired him to keep going:
- He was sitting by a well and noticed a rock that had a hole worn into it by falling drops of water.
- He reasoned that if soft water can carve through hard stone, consistent, repetitive study of the Torah could carve its way into his mind
The Love Story & The Sacrifice
- The Secret Marriage: Rachel saw past Akiva’s exterior as a simple, unlettered shepherd. Her father, furious that she married an illiterate worker, disowned her and banished them from his estate.
- Life of Poverty: They lived in extreme destitution in a barn, with Akiva picking straw out of her hair. Once, when they gave away their last bundle of straw to a freezing pauper (revealed to be the Prophet Elijah), Rachel famously told her husband to go become a Torah scholar.
- The 24 Years: Akiva left for the academies for 12 years, and then another 12 years. During this time, Rachel supported herself entirely. When she was mocked by neighbors for waiting, she replied that she would gladly have him stay another 12 years to master the Torah.
The Legacy of “Jerusalem of Gold”
- The Promise: When they were poor, Akiva promised Rachel that one day he would buy her a Yerusalem of Gold—a magnificent golden tiara depicting the city of Jerusalem.
- Fulfillment: After 24 years, Akiva returned triumphant, surrounded by 24,000 disciples. Reconciled with her father, Akiva became wealthy and fulfilled his promise, gifting her the famous golden diara.
- The Ultimate Tribute: When his students tried to push away a poorly-dressed woman in the crowd, Akiva stopped them, declaring to his thousands of students the famous words “Whatever I know, and whatever you know, belongs entirely to her.