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A JUG OF WATER
The Romans ruled Israel for a long time. One of the emperors passed a law forbidding the Jews to study the Torah, but the Jewish people refused to obey.
"It is because of your Torah that you do not act like Romans," they said, "We forbid you to continue studying. If you disobey our command, you will be cast into prison or put to death.”
The Romans were certain that the Jews would not break this law for fear of the punishment. But no! They were more determined than ever to resist Roman oppression.
Rabbi Akiva was the head of one of the largest yeshivot (Jewish learning centres) in Israel. He continued to learn with his students, even at the risk of his life and freedom. When the Romans found him teaching Torah, they arrested him and put the old scholar into prison.
Even though he was an old man, Rabbi Akiva was confined to a dark, bare cell and Roman guards watched over him day and night to prevent him from escaping. But he did not give up his faith in God. He had no books, but he spent his days studying Torah by heart. Though he was weak and frail, he refused to eat the food brought him by the Roman guards. He would say, "I will eat only if one of my students brings kosher food and I can wash my hands before meals. This is what Jewish law requires."
In spite of their cruelty, the Romans did not wish to see Rabbi Akiva die in prison. They wanted to bring him to a public trial where they would show the Jews what would happen to anyone found breaking their law.
So they called Rabbi Yehoshua Garsi, one of Rabbi Akiva's students, and told him to bring food and water to his teacher. Rabbi Yehoshua was happy to help Rabbi Akiva and he secretly hoped to learn Torah with him at their daily meetings. Every morning, he took a basket of food and a large jug full of water, and hurried to the imprisoned Rabbi Akiva.
On one visit, a Roman guard overtook Rabbi Yehoshua Garsi and stopped him. "What's that you're carrying?" he bellowed. "You cannot go on until I search your belongings. What is it you have here? Food? Well, you may keep that! But the water! It is more than any man can drink," he said suspiciously, "I know what you want to do! You want to soften the soil underneath the prison wall with this water, so that it will be easier for you to dig a hole through which Rabbi Akiva will escape from prison!"
Snatching the water from Rabbi Yehoshua, he tipped the jug and spilled most of it on the floor. When there was barely enough left for a drink, he allowed Rabbi Yehoshua to continue on his way.
Rabbi Yehoshua finally reached Rabbi Akiva. "I am very sorry," he said, and he explained what had happened.
Rabbi Akiva sighed and said, "Please give me what is left of the water, and I will wash my hands now." Rabbi Yehoshua looked at the small amount of water in the pitcher and said with concern, "But this is hardly enough for drinking. How will you have enough water for washing your hands too?"
Rabbi Akiva answered, "There is no choice. The rabbis have ruled that we must wash our hands before eating. It is one of the mitzvot, and even if I die of hunger, I will not eat without washing."
Rabbi Akiva refused to eat. When the guards saw that he would not eat if he did not have water to wash, they allowed Rabbi Yehoshua to bring him more water. Only then did Rabbi Akiva wash his hands, say the blessing on bread, and eat his meal.
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| Last updated 2008/09/28 17:19:16 EST | |
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