Two of the most famous statements in the Talmud are made by Rabbi Akiva.
One of these statements comes from a very interesting discussion (Talmud Yerushlami, Nedarim 9:4). The question is asked: which single verse in the Torah best represents the Torah's fundamental message? Ben Azzai answers with a verse from Parashat Bereshit (5:1), "Zeh Sefer Toldot Adam – These are the generations of Adam." Ben Azzai chooses this verse because it emphasizes the commonality of all human beings. Every one of us comes from Adam Harishon, the first person. Rabbi Akiva then presents his famous answer. He says, "Veahavta Lerei'akha Kamokha - Love your friend as yourself" (Vayikra 19:18), "Zeh Klal Gadol BaTorah - This is the essence of Torah." By choosing this verse Rabbi Akiva teaches that everything we do and say must demonstrate love and caring for our fellow human beings. We must give others the same treatment as we would want for ourselves. This is what Torah is all about.
Rabbi Akiva's other famous statement is found in the Talmud in Bava Metzia (62a). In this case, the discussion revolves around a classic moral conflict. Two people are wandering in the desert. One of them has a flask of water which contains only enough water for one person. If the water is divided between the two, both will die. If only one drinks the water, he will survive, while the other dies of thirst. The Talmud asks, should the person with the flask share his water or drink it himself? Ben Petora rules that the person should share it: better that both of them drink it and die, rather than one of them living to see the death of the other. Rabbi Akiva disagrees. He bases his ruling on a verse from this week's parashah. In Parashat Behar, the Torah commands, "Vekhi Yamokh Achikha, Umatah Yado Emakh Vehechezakta Bo, Ger Vetoshav, Vachai Emakh - If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him...so that he can live with you" (Vayikra 25:36). Rabbi Akiva understands the end of this verse -- "Vachai Emakh, so that he can live with you" -- as meaning "along with you" or "secondary to you." In other words, only after your own life is safe are you required to ensure the safety of other people. Our commentators agree that while it is certainly forbidden to kill another person in order to save one's our life, according to Rabbi Akiva, there is no obligation to save another person at the cost of one's own life. Rabbi Akiva's ruling is known as "Chayekha Kodmin - Your life takes priority."
The Chatam Sofer -- the great Hungarian Torah scholar of the 19th century -- compares Rabbi Akiva's famous statements and raises an interesting question (Torat Moshe on Vayikra 19:18): don't they seem to contradict each other? On the one hand, Rabbi Akiva tells us that we should give others the same treatment as ourselves. "Veahavta Lerei'akha Kamokha, Zeh Klal Gadol BaTorah - Love your friend as yourself, this is the essence of Torah." On the other hand, he tells us that we should regard others as less than ourselves. "Chayekha Kodmin - Your life takes priority." To answer this question, the Chatam Sofer focuses on the exact wording of Rabbi Akiva's credo, "Veahavta Lerei'akha Kamokha, Zeh Klal Gadol BaTorah." He says that the word "BaTorah" does not mean that this rule is written in the Torah, but rather that this rule concerns the study of the Torah. One's own life has priority when it comes to physical survival. When your physical existence is threatened, "Chayekha Kodmin:" you must care for yourself first and only then for others. But in the spiritual realm -- in the world of Torah -- "Veahavta Lerei'akha Kamokha - you must love every Jew as yourself" -- sharing with them the beauty of Torah learning and mitzvot.
The Chatam Sofer's interpretation of these statements contains a message sorely needed by many Jews today. Too often, when other Jews disagree with us, we say "Chayekha Kodmin" - I come first, my opinion takes priority. There is no discussion, no way to work together at all, no way to compromise. But this is not the way of Torah! Rabbi Akiva says that we must love every Jew like ourselves. That does not mean we have to accept anything another Jew or another movement says. And it certainly does not mean that we must participate in activities which are Halakhically forbidden. What "Veahavta Lerei'akha Kamokha, Zeh Klal Gadol BaTorah" means is that we must tolerate the actions of other Jews. We must work with them as much as Jewish Law allows. We must love them as we love ourselves, in order to draw them closer to Hashem and His Holy Torah.
Every year between Pesach and Shavuot, we mourn for 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who died because they did not treat each other with respect (Yevamot 62b). This great tragedy has caused some people to wonder whether Rabbi Akiva made his statement "Veahavta Lerei'akha Kamokha, Zeh Klal Gadol BaTorah" before or after his students' deaths. Maybe he chose this verse as the Torah's essential teaching because he had seen what could happen when it was not followed. The results could be fatal. On the other hand, it is very possible that Rabbi Akiva's statements were made before his students' deaths. In this case, we could assume that the students disregarded their teacher's ruling. And not only that. They made the same mistake that many of us make today: they mis-applied Rabbi Akiva's other principle. When disagreeing with each other, they thought to themselves "Chayekha Kodmin - my life takes priority." But they were wrong. And their lives were taken because of it. May we all learn the lesson of their tragedy.
Rabbi
Mordechai Friedfertig
Congregation B'nai Shalom
Williamsville,
New York
Email: mordechai at utj.org
Copyright 2000-2003 by Mordechai Friedfertig