Rabbi Akiva
Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef ( Jewish Babylonian Aramaic : ; Judeo-Galilean Aramaic : ) is one of the leading masters of the third generation of doctors of the Mishnah ( I. and II th centuries ).
Key contributor to the development of the Mishnah and Midrash halakha , it is considered one of the founders of rabbinic Judaism Biographical Elements Rabbi Akiva's life is known, in the absence of other sources, the only rabbinical tradition. The facts are highly glazed legend. One of the latter said that, like Moses and Hillel the Elder , Rabbi Akiva said to have lived 120 years , but it is possible that the life of Rabbi Akiva was, as stated in this tradition, incorporated three periods, like its two predecessors. The beginnings of Rabbi Akiva is subject to a tradition whose first version is probably in the Avot of Rabbi Nathan , and the Talmud which has several variants somewhat romanticized , . According to this tradition, Rabbi Akiva was born in the land of Israel in a family converted to Judaism and has worked as a shepherd , , , . It is up to 40 years , a Haaretz am perfect ignorant, disdainful of studies , when he decided to learn the Torah. Encouraged by Rachel, daughter of his employer, Kalba Savua , one of the notables of Jerusalem , (according to another version, the daughter of his son ), which promises the marry, he went to study. Kalba Savua not slow to learn, and before this misalliance, disinherited his daughter and vowed to never see her again , . Akiva starts at the school of his town, Lydda, in primary classes where one learns to read Hebrew, alongside his own son . It therefore cease to wonder at everything and ask questions like a child, taking nothing for granted, quickly becoming the largest student, Rabbi Yehoshua and especially Rabbi Eliezer , which is the often contrasted: while these two masters, who began their studies in adulthood in the midst of many hardships, are both became gdolei Hador (large generation) and Rabbi Eliezer is of a proud and free compromise, leading to his excommunication, Rabbi Akiva is characterized by its modesty and its deletion . In other sources, is a certain Joshua is mentioned specifically as a stepfather of Rabbi Akiva . Rabbi Akiva remains at Lydda , probably until the last days of Rabbi Eliezer , whom he comes to visit during his illness . He then established his own academy and his court to Bnei Brak , five Roman miles from Jaffa (which is the nearest town of Messoubim the current site of Bnei Brak). It also seems to have lived some time Tziphron . Besides his duties as judge and master in Lydda and in Bnei Brak, Rabbi Akiva also among members of the academy of Yavneh , which sits on the Sanhedrin after the capture of Jerusalem by Vespasian. Popular of Nasi Rabban Gamaliel of Yavneh , it often represents the voice of moderation, particularly in the conflict between the Nasi Rabbi Yehoshua . Rabban Gamaliel is filed when the members of the college are seriously considering to appoint Rabbi Akiva to this post, but finally elected Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah. Rabban Gamaliel and when is reinstalled, Rabbi Akiva maintains his confidence. Rabbi Akiva's reputation grew rapidly in the Jewish world, a tradition reaching global proportions , and such a reputation that, according to aggadah Talmud, Moses himself recognizes its superiority . The number of disciples that tradition attributes to him, is 12 000 , 24,000 or 48,000 spread over the whole land of Israel. Thus, Rabbi Akiva has trained many disciples, many of which are illustrated in their generation or the next. Azai ben Shimon and Shimon ben Zoma , with whom he studied the esoteric depths of the Bible, were among his early followers, and that Elisha ben AVOUYI ; Hananiah ben Hakin be a disciple later . It is also out of his school that the teachers of the next generation (mid- second century ), Rabbi Meir , Rabbi Yehuda , Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai , Rabbi Yossi ben Halafta , Rabbi Eleazar ben Shamou and Rabbi Nehemia . The last period of his life is spent facing the Roman occupation that has hardened its yoke, under the military campaigns of Trajan. It is probably in this context of religious oppression that we see Rabbi Akiva declare the intercalation of an extra month Nehardea in Babylonia . On the theological level, the Talmud relates many disputations between Rabbi Akiva and unbelievers, including the Roman governor of Jerusalem, Quintus Rufus Tinneius , the Talmud calls or Tyrannus Turnus Rufus. Despite the emergence of new laws to ban all teaching of the Act, Rabbi Akiva continued to do so publicly in defiance of the consequences, comparing a Jewish Torah without a fish without water. Although his death is traditionally linked to the revolt of Bar Kokhba , the role he would actually view is controversial. The Talmud assigns the initiative, or at least a decisive role in the compilation of the Mishna : "What is life like Rabbi Akiva? - A peasant who leaves his cart. He finds the barley - it puts, oats - he puts, sound - he puts, beans - it makes it, lentils - it makes it. When he returns home he sorts, barley with barley, oats with oat, with its sound, beans with beans, lentils with lentils. Thus did Rabbi Akiva, who drew up the rules by rules Torah "(Avot of Rabbi Nathan ch. 18; Babylonian Talmud, Gittin Treaty, 67a). Rabbi Akiva was a lot of controversy both with his masters with his students and colleagues. Generally, "when Rabbi Akiva dispute with one wise, the halakha is fixed in his opinion, but when the debate with more of a wise, this is not the case. " This article incorporates text from the Jewish Encyclopedia of 1901-1906, article "AKIBA BEN JOSEPH" by Louis Ginzberg , a publication now in the public domain. First period
He also studied with Nahum of Gimzo , who taught him, besides his exegetical principles, to consider that things happen, despite appearances, always for the better . Another of his teachers, Rabbi Tarfon , recognizes his greatness and take it as a colleague, even as his own master .
After a number of years (13 or 24 , ), during which Rachel has endured the worst deprivations and humiliation , , he taught Torah in public , with many students. When, after 12 years he returns home is to start immediately over 12 years. And when students want to remove this pig unrecognizable appearing before their master, he said that "what is mine and what's yours is hers . In the other version, Kalba Savua, who came to cancel his vow to the sage passing, fell at his feet when he learns his identity and gave him half of his possessions . Second period
Third period
On the political front, Rabbi Akiva supports the head of the new revolution, Shimon bar Koziva. Rabbi Akiva, impressed by his great deeds and his Davidic descent , gives the patriot's name, under which it is currently known of Bar Kochba (son of the star), from the verse "A star rises the house of Jacob , "and proclaimed Messiah.
Order by Turnus Rufus, he was imprisoned for several years and executed. Rabbi Akiva died Shema Israel lips . Its purpose is to Jews as an incomprehensible scandal .
For historians of the Wissenschaft des Judentums , it is more than doubtful: the trips he made to Rome, are located by Heinrich Graetz around 95-96 , long before the revolt. Moreover, the reason given for his death by the Talmud itself is religious, not political. Finally, according Zecharias Frankel , performance must have taken place in 132, before the final suppression of the revolution of Bar Kokhba in Beitar , otherwise the delay is inexplicable imprisonment .
For others, the voyages of Rabbi Akiva had perhaps intended to generate financial and political support for a possible revolt, and the plague that struck his students is the Roman suppression of the revolt of Bar Kokhba, the disposition of which Rabbi Akiva would put his students . In addition, the city has refused to open its doors for the night when he was already an acknowledged master is a city of opponents to the revolt, which Rabbi Akiva was a notorious supporter . Work
Place in the Mishna
Some lessons
'God created the world,' said Rabbi Akiva.
'Prove it to me! "
'Come see me tomorrow,' replied Rabbi Akiva.
The man returned the next day. Rabbi Akiva asked him:
'What are you wearing? "
A cape, as you can see. "
'Who did it? "
'The weaver, of course. "
'I do not believe you, prove me! " Rabbi Akiva said
'What evidence do you need? Do not you see that it is the weaver who made this dress? A coat is woven there all alone? "
'Then why do you ask me proof that God created the world? You just gave the answer: Do not you see that the Holy One, blessed be He who created it? " References
Bibliography
Portal of Jewish culture and Judaism
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