At the tomb of Rachel, wife of the great sage Rabbi Akiva located south of Tiberias.
The story of Rachel and Rabbi Akiva is one of the greatest love stories of all time. When the couple met, Akiva was a 40 year old illiterate pauper working as a shepard for Rachel's wealthy father. Rachel, who possessed extraordinary wisdom, saw Akiva's great potential and married him on the condition that he learn Torah despite her father's threat to disown her.
When Rabbi Akiva returned to Rachel, after having achieved greatness in learning, they had been separated for 24 years. Giving credit to his wife for his success, he told his students: "Mine and yours are hers."
We see from this story that a wise woman draws her husband closer to the Torah. By encouraging her husband to learn Torah, a woman fulfills her responsibility to spiritually build the home. Women possess a wisdom called binah in Hebrew as in bniyah (building). King Solomon, the wisest of all men said (Proverbs 14:1): "Women's wisdom built her home." Rabbi Arush points out that the verse does not say, "A wise man built his home."
Wishing you Blessings Always,
Dr. Zev Ballen
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