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Akiba

Akiba was a teacher of Jewish Law and father of the rabbinic movement who lived and taught in the latter half of the first century and the first half of the second century CE. He has been elevated to almost legendary status in Jewish history and therefore many narratives surround Akiba's life which may or may not be entirely accurate. Therefore, it is often hard for the serious scholar to know a great deal about the rabbi (JacobsCCJR1999). However, he is mentioned in several primary sources. He is spoken of highly in most sources, such as the mention of him in the Midrash Sifrei?, a commentary on Deuteronomy 28, where he is placed in the same category as Shaphan? and Ezra?. Hayim Perelmuter cites that Akiba's great contribution to rabbinic Judaism was his method of classification for Jewish oral law?. Perelmuter also writes of Akiba's great exegetical skills, not only of words or phrases, but even of how individual letters are used to form these words and phrases (PerelmuterSRJEC1989:84-98).