And Rachel Was His Wife

by Marsi Tabak, Ben Zion Sobel (Editor)

Her name was Rachel. She was wise, wealthy, beautiful, and courageous. She could have been a princess, but sacrificed everything because of what she saw inside the heart and soul of a humble shepherd named Akiva. She became his wife and he became one of the most outstanding scholars and leaders in all of Jewish history.
And Rachel Was His Wife takes us back in the quaint towns, majestic hills and fruitful valleys of ancient Israel under Roman rule in the turbulent Second Temple era. Written in the form of a personal journal recorded by a friend of Rachel s, we witness the changing life and times of Rabbi Akiva through the eyes of his wife her challenges and self-sacrifice, her trials and triumphs all against a backdrop of an oppressive Roman Empire.
Extensively researched and based upon traditional sources, And Rachel Was His Wife unfolds with historical authenticity. Immerse yourself in the compelling events of that time; encounter the personalities, conversations, and ideas that helped shape Jewish history; and come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Jewish faith and destiny.

Genres: Jewish, Historical Fiction, Judaism

305 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1990

Reviews

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it but I'm just not 100% sure it could have played out that way. Enjoyable nonetheless!

[Adam R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The life of the great Rabbi Akiva shines brighter than ever once you found out his true source of encouragement and insparation is his wife Rachel.

[Tzipporah Prottas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book draws you into the rich and captivating setting of Ancient Israel, in twisting times of light and darkness.
The story is narrated in such a natural way, which I believe helps transport you back in time, and helps you connect to the characters.
The characters in this novel have such depth, and are each a pillar of the story on their own, from the sagely, devoted Rabbi Akiva, to the humorous and relatable Leah.
This is a novel populated by great individuals, a rich history, captivating settings, clear wording, holding strong to convictions in times of adversity, support and love, and change...

I HIGHLY recommend it, for tweens to adults.

[rivka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Occasionally heavy-handed on the employment v. learning issue (not to mention transparently talking at least as much about the present as about the era the book is about), and sadly fails to give a truly balanced option.

Nonetheless, a marvelous look at a remarkable era and incredible people. Have tissues at hand.

[Ahdee · Rating 5 out of 5]

an amazing story, true to history and full of illistraions that send chills douwn the spine. a must read. this book can help personal growth and encourages us to live a moral happy life.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good!

[Chana]

loved this book when i was a kid...

[Shoshanah Shear · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed with this book. It was too fictitious for what the subject matter was. I was hoping for stories perhaps from Midrash, not dialogue that was made-up

[Foxglove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moralistic but told its story well.