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Akiva and Rachel. One of the greatest love stories of all time. Gertcel Davydov
Читать онлайн.Название Akiva and Rachel. One of the greatest love stories of all time
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9785448518966
Автор произведения Gertcel Davydov
Жанр Документальная литература
Издательство Издательские решения
«I do all kinds of things. I have herded cattle, I chop wood or gather firewood in the forest to sell at market.»
Shimon’s question forced Akiva to drag his attention away from his plate of delicious food.
Shimon’s wife interrupted them, «Shimon, let our guest eat his dinner. Then you can talk.» The spice trader heeded his wife’s advice and let Akiva enjoy his food.
Akiva quickly emptied his plate and enthusiastically agreed to the offer of a second helping. Akiva’s manners slightly embarrassed the city dwellers but being hospitable hosts, they tried not to show it. When they had finished eating, Shimon asked Akiva to read a blessing with him but Akiva explained that he was illiterate and didn’t know any blessings. Shimon was shocked by Akiva’s admission but saying nothing more about it, he spoke a blessing whilst his wife set about clearing the table.
Shimon returned to the question he felt compelled to ask, «Didn’t you go to school as a boy? How is it that a grown man like you doesn’t know how to read or write?»
«I was sent out to work at a very young age and so even though I am now over thirty years old, I have never had the time or the means to study,» Akiva said sadly.
«Akiva, it won’t be easy for you in Jerusalem. Here people call the illiterate am-aamrets6.»
«It is too late at my age to do anything about it.»
«The Holy Scriptures tells us that it is never too late. Remember that. You said you have no friends in Jerusalem, is that right?»
«Yes, that is right. I don’t know anyone here at all.»
«It’s late. Stay with us tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll think about what you might be able to do here in Jerusalem.»
Akiva usually woke at dawn but on this occasion, he slept until lunchtime. He was finally woken by the scorching rays of the August sun. When he finally appeared, he found his hosts already waiting for him at the table.
«I haven’t slept like this for a long time. I am usually up at dawn and go to bed late at night. It must have been the long journey that made me sleep so late.»
«It is good that you slept well. We tried not to wake you, as you will need your strength.»
Shimon’s wife quickly laid the table and invited her husband and their guest to eat breakfast. Akiva ate with great enthusiasm as he had done the evening before. Hesitating, it occurred to him suddenly that he was taking advantage of the hospitality offered to him and that it would be quite wrong to devour everything on the table.
«What’s the matter Akiva?» the hostess asked, «Why have you stopped eating?»
«Thank you, but I am full already and I should set off. I have stayed much longer than I intended.»
«Don’t rush. Eat, drink, you will need your strength. Where do you plan to go Akiva?» Shimon asked.
«I will go to the market and ask the traders there whether anyone needs an extra pair of hands. I have to find work to pay for food and lodgings.»
«Kalba Savua might be employing workers.»
«Who is Kalbu Savua?»
«One of the three wealthiest men in Jerusalem» said Akiva’s host. I take spices to his family once a week and we have become good friends over the years. His house is always full of guests which is why he has the nickname Kalba Savua7.
«Why the strange nickname?» asked Akiva surprised.
«Because even if a dog enters his house hungry, it will still leave satisfied. His door is always open to visitors and he too tries in this way to emulate our forefather Abraham.» Shimon paused for a moment and then with some sadness added,
«Since the failed revolt, the Romans have been taxing him heavily.»
«Did he take part in the uprising?» asked Akiva, again with some surprise.
«He is not only wealthy and respected, he is a faithful son of the homeland. He is one of the three most affluent residents of Jerusalem who helped the rebels.»
«Who were the other two?»
«Nakdimon ben Guryon and Ben Tsitsit Akeset. Their wealth is legendary. The three of them together could feed all Jerusalem.»
«Why then were the Romans successful in capturing Jerusalem and destroying the city?»
«Learning of the approach of the Roman army, Kalba Savua, Nakdimon Ben Guryon and Ben Tsitsit Akeset filled their warehouses with food, which in the case of a siege on the city would have lasted for twenty-one years. They were certain that the Romans would never have the forces or supplies to withstand a long siege and that they would retreat. Some of the residents of Judea didn’t want to follow their plan, desperate to fight with the Romans face-to-face. They set fire to the warehouses in the hope that, when the city was left without food and water, waiting would no longer be an option and the other citizens would follow them into battle. We all know how it ended.»
«I would consider it an honour to work for such a respected man. If he takes me on, I shall be very grateful to you Mr. Shimon.»
«There’s no need to thank me. Finish your breakfast and we’ll go and see Kalba Savua together. I am delivering some spices there today» said the trader, and then, as if reading the question in Akiva’s eyes, he said, «Jews must help each other and stick together particularly in times that are as hard for the people as these.»
Akiva was excited. If he was successful in getting work with the rich man, he would receive a good salary, a roof over his head and survive these difficult times.
Having secured the heavy spice sack over the donkey’s back they set out on their journey. The road they took passed by the market.
«If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come back here before sunset and look for work amongst the merchants. Maybe one of them will need my help,» said Akiva.
The old man stopped him and said:
«You can always come to the market and no doubt here, you’ll find bits of work, but being employed by Kalba Savua would give you much more certainty.»
«Yes, Mr. Shimon, you’re right.» Akiva agreed. «I am already thirty. I want to find a good job where I can work quietly up until my old age».
In the distance, beyond the city market, stood the ruins of numerous buildings and among them there remained a single surviving wall.
Catching his companion’s gaze fall on the city ruins, Shimon explained:
«This is Temple Mount. Here a Temple used to tower above the ground! Our ancestors revered this site and for a thousand years, they came here to pray.» The Romans looted and destroyed our Second Temple just six years after it was built on the 9th of Av8 in the year 38309. That wasn’t the only sorrowful event that took place on this date. The First Temple, the Temple of King Solomon10, built around a thousand years ago, was also destroyed on the 9th day of Av.
«You might think me stupid Mr. Shimon but I don’t believe in coincidences.»
«Akiva, what right have I to think you stupid? We are all equal before the blessed Almighty and each has a right to their own opinion of events that have taken place in the past. If He, the All-merciful, had wanted everyone to have the same view on events, He would have made it to be that way. But given that we are all different, then that is how it should be. I often wonder why these recent events and
* Am-aarets, lit. ’people of the earth’, the ignorant, common people.
* Kalba Savua lit. ’the satiated dog’.
* Month Av is the fifth month in the Hebrew calendar counting from the exodus from Egypt. It corresponds approximately to July-August.
* 2 August year 70 A.D..
* King Solomon (in Hebrew «Shlomo’) was the son of King David from Bat-Sheba, the third Jewish King. King Solomon is survived by his three books: «Shir a – shirim’ (Song of songs), «Mishlei’ (Proverbs of King Solomon) and «Kohelet’ (Ecclesiastes).