Rachel, the wife of the great Rabbi Akiva, holds a special place in Jewish history as a symbol of loyalty, perseverance and wisdom. She was not only the life partner of one of the greatest sages of the Jewish tradition. Rachel radically influenced his fate and contributed to the spiritual rise of her husband. And her role as a wife and mother reveals the depth and versatility of her character.
Rachel lived in the 1st - 2nd centuries. AD and was the daughter of a rich, respected man named Kalba Savua, which translated from Aramaic means “well-fed dog.”  Despite her privileged position, she chose the path of love and loyalty when she fell in love with Akiva, a poor shepherd who worked for her father.  At that time, this man was considered no longer young. He was 40 years old. The condition of their marriage was Akiva's promise to devote himself to Torah study. Kalba Savua, having learned about his daughter's decision, disinherited her and kicked her out of the house.
The story of the marriage of Rachel and Akiva is, first of all, a story of a woman’s self-sacrifice. She gave up a life of luxury and chose poverty so that her husband could devote himself entirely to his studies. According to legend, she cut and sold her luxurious hair so that her husband could leave his home and go to Lod to study Kabbalah. The woman was left alone, raising their children and providing for their daily needs, as well as sending money to her husband for his studies. Her children, like Rachel herself, grew up in poverty, but this did not stop her from being a loving and caring mother. Despite all the difficulties, Rachel never complained or grumbled about fate. She knew her sacrifices would pay off, and that gave her strength.
Rachel's support and faith in her husband allowed Rabbi Akiva to achieve heights in Torah study. He studied with many famous Kabbalists of the time, gradually surpassed his teachers and soon became the most prominent Kabbalist of the generation. The school that Rabbi Akiva opened gained enormous popularity. It was attended by 24,000 students who came from all over the country.  When Rabbi Akiva returned home, the whole city came out to greet the great teacher, and Rachel was among them. Rabbi Akiva, seeing his wife, said to his disciples: “Everything I have and everything you have belongs to her.”
Rachel's role as a mother was no less significant than her role as a wife. The Talmud does not often mention personal details of the lives of great sages, but it is known about Rachel that she was the mother of several children who, thanks to her efforts, grew up to be righteous people. Rabbi Akiva's wife was able to convey to them the strength of spirit, faith and perseverance that so characterized her. Rachel's children, despite all the hardships they had to experience, followed the path of the Torah, which was greatly facilitated by the atmosphere of spirituality and love that reigned in their home. The most famous among them is Yehoshua ben Karkha, who also became a respected teacher and successor to his father's work.
Rachel did not break even after her husband Rabbi Akiva was captured by the Roman authorities for studying Kabbalah, imprisoned in Caesarea and, by order of the Roman ruler, subjected to cruel execution. The woman continued to raise her children in honor of the memory of their father.
Rachel's life is a reminder that behind great men there are often equally great women whose sacrifices and dedication pave the way to success and greatness.