Rabbi Akiva: The Mystical Prayer of a Legal Authority

 Export to My Calendar

Rabbi Akiva is generally seen as the central legal authority in the Mishna; much of Jewish law, both civil and ritual, can be traced to him and his students. Yet Rabbi Akiva's prayer indicates that he may have also been a mystic. Certainly the Hasidic masters saw Rabbi Akiva as the paradigm for mystical prayer.

This lecture will also discuss different types of mystical experiences that are recognized in the Hasidic tradition.