'AKABIA BEN MAHALALEL:

By: S. Mendelsohn

A religious teacher, probably of the second tannaitic generation (first and second centuries). Of his early history nothing is known; his teachers are nowhere named; and of his sayings comparatively few have been preserved (Mishnah 'Eduy. v. 6, 7; Mishnah Bek. v. 4; Mishnah Niddah, ii. 6; Mishnah Neg. i. 4, v. 3). The Mishnah portrays him as a man who, even in cases where different traditions were held by the majority of his colleagues, fearlessly and persistently maintained opinions on some Halakot, because those opinions were founded on traditions he had received from his learned predecessors. On one occasion the majority demanded that he renounce his divergent opinions, but he refused. It was even intimated to him that, in the event of his compliance, he would be elevated to the dignity of Ab bet din (president of the court); but 'Akabia rejected the proposition, remarking, "I would rather be called a fool all my lifetime than be a sinner for one moment."

In the course of the discussion of the Halakah concerning the administration of "the water of jealousy" (Num. v. 11-31), 'Akabia declared that, if the subject of the test was not a free-born Jewess, the test-water was not to be administered; while the majority declared a proselyte or an emancipated slave to be the equal of a free-born daughter in Israel. In support of their view the majority cited a case in point, where the former associate presidents of the Sanhedrin, Shemaiah and Abtalion, had the test made on a freed woman; whereupon 'Akabia disdainfully exclaimed, "Dugma hishḲuha." This might mean "To one like themselves they gave to drink," and may be construed as an allusion to an old rumor to the effect that these associate presidents were themselves lineal descendants of proselytes (Giṭ. 57b); or it might mean "They gave her a sham to drink." The memory of those chiefs being held in esteem, 'Akabia's insinuation gave offense; wherefore the sentence of nidduy (isolation, excommunication) was passed on him. This he bore to the end of his days rather than violate his convictions. However, before his death, he admonished his son to submit to the views of the majority, even in the cases where he himself had shown such persistent opposition. His son expressing surprise at so apparent an inconsistency, the dying sage replied: "I have received my tradition from a majority of a school in my days, and so have my opponents. I was bound to conform to the tradition I had received; and so are they bound by their tradition. But thou hast heard the traditions both from myself and from my opponents; from a minority and from a majority, and it is proper for thee to reject the opinions of the individual and adopt the views of the majority" ('Eduy. v. 7).

Another characteristic trait of 'Akabia was the great stress he laid on personal merit. When, on his deathbed, he was requested by his son to recommend him to the sages, he declined to do so. His son inquired whether his father had discovered in him any trait which rendered him unworthy of such recommendation; and 'Akabia's reply was, "No! but thine own deeds will make thee welcome, or thine own deeds will make thee obnoxious" ('Eduy. v. 7).

'Akabia's motto in life was: "Remember whence thou hast come, whither thou goest, and before whom thou must be prepared to render an account of thy doings" (Ab. iii. 1; compare Ab. R. N. xix; Yer. Soṭah, ii. 18a; Derek Ereẓ R. iii). Beyond this maxim and the Halakot enumerated above, nothing from him has been transmitted. As to his epoch scholars are divided. While some place him in the patriarchate of Hillel I. (30 B.C. to 10 of the present era), and even somewhat earlier, others bring him down to the first tannaitic generation (10-80); still others believe that he flourished during the patriarchate of Gamaliel II. (80-117). The circumstances and scholastic achievements of the second tannaitic generation render 'Akabia's excommunication more reasonable.

The decree of excommunication failed to obscure 'Akabia's merited fame; for his name reached subsequent generations surrounded by such a halo of glory as to throw doubt on the decree itself. "God forbid," exclaims Judah b. Ilai, one of the tannaim of the fourth generation (139-165), "that we should think that 'Akabia was excommunicated, for the Temple gates were never closed behind a man in Israel so great in wisdom and in the fear of sin as was 'Akabia ben Mahalalel" ('Eduy. l.c.). This expression, which is based on the law forbidding an excommunicated person to enter the Temple court, was in later days taken literally, and gave rise to forced halakic discussions and comments (Ber. 19a, Pes. 64b), as well as to hypothetical speculations about the age of 'Akabia. Elsewhere (Sifre, Num. 105) it is said, "Whoever asserts that 'Akabia was ever excommunicated will have to answer before the tribunal of heaven." This observation is wrongly attributed to Judah b. Betera I. (compare Shab. 97a); and conclusions as to 'Akabia's early age are erroneously deduced therefrom.

S. M.