Akiba ben Joseph
Akiba ben Joseph
Akiva ben Joseph, also known as Rabbi Akiva, was a leading Jewish scholar and sage and a tanna of the latter part of the first century and the beginning of the second. Rabbi Akiva was a leading contributor to the Mishnah and to Midrash Halakha. He is referred to in Tosafot as Rosh la-Hakhamim. He was executed by the Romans in the aftermath of the Bar Kokhba revolt. He has also been described as a
"Rabbi Yehuda said: This was the custom of Rabbi Akiva, when he would pray with the congregation he would shorten (his prayer) and go up, due to encumbrance on the congregation. But when he prayed by himself a person would leave (Rabbi Akiva alone) in one corner and find him in another corner. And why so much? Because of his bows and prostrations."
"Rabbi Tarfon said: Akiva, anyone who separates from you, it is as though he has separated from life"
"Love your fellow as yourself- Rabbi Akiva says: This is the great principal of the Torah"
"Jesting and levity lead a man to lewdness."
"Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of God."
"Beloved are Israel, for they were called children of the All-present."
