Rabbi Akiva
vers 50-vers 135 1st century
To love God to the last breath, and to hold every person as beloved.
Who was Rabbi Akiva?
An unlettered shepherd until his forties, he learned to read alongside children, urged on by his wife Rachel who waited while he studied far from her. He became the most quoted teacher of the Mishnah, the one who dared read the Song of Songs as a love song between God and his people. Under Hadrian the teaching of the Law was forbidden; he went on teaching, was arrested and put to death at Caesarea.
In their own words
Beloved is the human being, for he was created in the image. Greater still was the love, in that it was made known to him that he was created in the image.
Happy are you, Israel. Before whom are you made clean, and who makes you clean. Your Father who is in heaven.
All my days I have been troubled by this verse: with all your soul, even if he takes your soul. I said: when will this come into my hands, that I may fulfil it. And now that it has come into my hands, shall I not fulfil it.
You shall love your neighbour as yourself: this is a great principle of the Law.