Rachel bat Kalba Savua

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Rachel bat Kalba Savua is traditionally revered as the devoted wife of Rabbi Akiva, celebrated for her sacrifice and support that enabled his transformation into one of Judaism’s greatest sages.

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Label Occurrences
Rachel bat Kalba Savua canonical 1

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Statements (35)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Jewish woman
Talmudic figure
associatedStory selling her hair to support Rabbi Akiva’s Torah study
sleeping on straw with Rabbi Akiva in poverty
causeOfConflict marrying an unlearned shepherd (Akiva)
conflictWith Kalba Savua
culturalRole paradigm of a supportive Torah‑scholar’s wife in Jewish tradition
economicStatus lived in poverty with Rabbi Akiva at the beginning of their marriage
encouraged Rabbi Akiva
surface form: Rabbi Akiva to study Torah for many years away from home
famousQuoteAboutHer “Sheli v’shelachem shelah hu” (Mine and yours are hers) – said by Rabbi Akiva
father Kalba Savua
historicity known primarily from rabbinic tradition rather than external historical records
languageOfName Hebrew
legacy symbol of mesirut nefesh (self‑sacrifice) for Torah
maritalStatus married to Rabbi Akiva against her father’s wishes
mentionedIn Talmud Bavli
surface form: Babylonian Talmud

Ketubot 62b–63a
Nedarim 50a
nameMeaning Rachel daughter of Kalba Savua
notableFor encouraging Rabbi Akiva to begin studying Torah as an adult
self‑sacrifice for Torah learning
supporting Rabbi Akiva’s Torah study
placeOfActivity Eretz HaKodesh
surface form: Land of Israel
recognizedBy Rabbi Akiva as the source of his Torah and that of his students
reconciledWith Kalba Savua after Rabbi Akiva became a great sage
religion Judaism
spouse Rabbi Akiva
spouseOfOccupation Tannaitic sage
rabbi
theme devotion to Torah
reward for faith and perseverance
self‑sacrifice in marriage
timePeriod Tannaitic era
vowRelatedTo Kalba Savua’s vow to disinherit her
yearsOfSeparation 24 years (traditional account)

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Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Rabbi Akiva spouse Rachel bat Kalba Savua