Rachel, wife of Rabbi Akiva

Rachel, daughter of the wealthy Kalba Savua of Jerusalem, is one of the great women of the Talmud. She saw the potential of the shepherd Akiva and married him on condition that he would devote himself to Torah study, even though her father disowned her for it.

She lived in poverty for many years while her husband studied. When Rabbi Akiva finally returned with thousands of students, he told them: “What is mine and what is yours is hers.” According to tradition she is buried in Tiberias.