but it wasn’t an easy task.
Akiva continued his rebuke. «They study the Holy Scriptures from childhood but what does it teach them, to insult, humiliate, lie and mock? I might be illiterate but I would never lie to anyone, say hurtful things, or just walk past someone who needed my help, whether they were rich or poor. Once, after a hard day, I managed to earn just one coin and I shared it with a poor, elderly man who was on the street because I know that I have a strong constitution and will survive if I miss supper for a day, but I wasn’t sure what would happen to the old man if he did not have anything to eat that day. I can’t remember how many times I have seen yeshiva students with full bags of food and their noses up in the air, walk past those in need without sharing so much as an apple with them.»
«Perhaps Akiva is right,» thought Shimon. «Maybe they do treat the ordinary folk badly. Perhaps they do behave differently towards me and other wealthy people but mock and sneer at those like Akiva. Now I can imagine just how much humiliation he must have suffered and thousands of others like him. He’s right. Who would want to go and study after suffering so much insult and humiliation?»
Akiva paid no attention to his troubled hosts and continued letting out his pain, «The yeshiva students are supposed to be setting an example to others of humility, modesty and mutual respect and not dividing people into rich and poor, literate and illiterate. That’s why I used to hate religious people, but after meeting you my life has totally changed. I have learned a lot and understand all sorts of things that I didn’t see before. I had never met people like you before, you, Kalba Savua and Dvora. You treat simple people with respect and try to help everyone no matter what their position. When you saw me on the street, you offered me a meal and a place to stay the night without expecting anything in return and it was then that I realised that things weren’t as bad as I had thought. There are still decent people in the world.»
Having calmed down a little and caught his breath, Akiva said, «Forgive me. All sorts of thoughts and feelings have built up inside and I have no-one to share them with.»
Shimon thought for a moment and said, «There are lots of people like us in Judea. The yeshiva students with whom I have spoken in Jerusalem and other cities say that they are always happy to take in guests. I am certain that many of those who follow the laws of the Torah and our forefather Abraham would have done exactly the same and offered you a bed for the night.»
Akiva countered his benefactor once again, «Saying it and doing it, are different things. I try to learn from everything I see and hear, and your hospitality has helped me understand that people have to set an example to others through their actions, not their words, and when the rich and the poor act from their conscience, then the people of Judea and will be properly strong and cohesive.»
After the meal Shimon gave a blessing and this time Akiva repeated the words after him. Once the Shabbat was over, Akiva returned to Kalba Savua’s house. He had long forgotten about the heated conversation about the yeshiva students. All his thoughts were now devoted to Rachel. Akiva’s story had made a deep impression on the elderly Shimon and his wife. They had discovered that their newfound friend, the illiterate shepherd was in fact a wise man, pure in heart and mind.
* * *
One day rolled into another and Akiva’s life became endlessly monotonous without the relief of seeing Rachel, but then on a wonderful spring day when Akiva was busy tending to the sheep and gazing over at the river, he heard the soft tones of a female voice:
«What are you thinking about Akiva?»
Akiva turned round and was met by a vision of Rachel looking as lovely as ever. Her long hair played and shone in the sunlight and her eyes…
Akiva hesitated. He looked at Rachel as if he was seeing her for the first time and found himself unable to speak a word.
«Akiva, what’s the matter? Have you forgotten how to talk again?» Rachel chirped, as cheerfully as a bird.
«No, I was just lost in my thoughts. I have been watching the water flowing in the river and contemplating life. I’ve been here since early this morning.» Akiva’s power of speech finally returned.
«I can watch the water for hours and a fire. It’s calming, isn’t it?» Rachel said, picking up the thread of the conversation.
«Last time I saw you, you rushed off to help prepare for the Shabbat. How did it all go?» Said Akiva, trying to control his nervousness.
«The Shabbat went really well. Everyone was very jovial! We had lots of guests, family and friends, as we always do. They only left yesterday evening, after the Shabbat. I helped the women clear up until midnight and then, after reading prayers in my room before bedtime, I fell asleep and slept really well.» Rachel whirled about, gracefully raising her arms, her laughter ringing out like a bell.
Akiva could not tear his eyes away from her.
«Rachel, you are still young. You must take care of yourself.»
Rachel stopped spinning, her breathing quick and deep. Akiva even thought he could feel her breath.
«When there are a lot of visitors, you do not think about yourself. You just think about finishing everything as quickly as possible and going to bed. Yesterday, I was so tired that today I slept in until midday. I remembered to read the prayers though and after breakfast, I decided to come out for a walk,» Rachel replied smiling good-naturedly.
«What prayers do you read in the morning and before you go to sleep?»
«Before going to sleep, I thank the merciful Creator for the day, for the fact that I have lived through it, and in the morning, for the fact that I have woken up, and then I read the morning blessings.»
Rachel’s response was a revelation for Akiva.
«Everyone wakes up in the morning. Do you really need to give thanks for that?»
«Yes Akiva, we must express gratitude and thanks to the Creator for everything He gives us. We are used to waking up in the morning, to the sun rising and setting, the day following night, to the trees bearing fruit, but we must understand, that it is all a miracle. Everything that happens in our world – the world itself exists only by the grace of the Creator.»
«What else is in the prayers?» Everything Rachel said was so new and curious to Akiva that she never ceased to surprise him.
«If you knew how to read, I would bring you a prayer book and other religious texts for you to study.»
«It’s too late for me to learn anything now and start studying religious books.» Akiva was quiet for a moment and then with a sudden bitter smile, he said, «Rachel, tell me, for what? What do I have to thank the Creator for, that at thirty years of age I still can’t read or write?»
Rachel was embarrassed and did not reply.
«You have everything going for you. You are young, beautiful, rich and clever. You have a lot to thank the creator for, but I who have nothing, not even a home, tell me, what would you have me thank the creator for?» Akiva had become increasingly angry.
«There is so much in this world that you can be thankful for. You have to learn to see the good in things. You can be grateful that you see this gorgeous sun, that you hear the sound of the river and the rustle of the leaves on the trees, that you can walk, for lots of things, that you have work, that you have a roof over your head, that you are caring, attentive and wise. See how much you have to be grateful for,» Rachel said tenderly, as if she were speaking to a child.
«You call me wise,» Akiva laughed, «but you barely know me.»
«You don’t have to have known a person for many years to understand whether they are wise or not. There are people who read a lot, who can talk on a variety of topics with a clever expression on their face, but even with the best will in the world, you could never call them wise. And then there are