g the Israelites to study the law,
what did Rabbi Akiba?

He installed many congregations secretly, and in secret lectured before
them.

Then Papus, the son of Juda said to him:--

"Art not afraid, Akiba? Thy doings may be discovered, and thou wilt be
punished for disobeying the decree."

"Listen, and I will relate to thee a parable," answered Akiba. "A fox,
walking by the river side, noticed the fishes therein swimming and
swimming to and fro, never ceasing; so he said to them, 'Why are ye
hurrying, what do ye fear?'

"'The nets of the angler,' they replied.

"'Come, then,' said the fox, 'and live with me on dry land.'

"But the fishes laughed.

"'And art thou called the wisest of the beasts?' they exclaimed; 'verily
thou art the most foolish. If we are in danger even in our element, how
much greater would be our risk in leaving it.'

"It is the same with us. We are told of the law that it is 'our life and
the prolongation of our days.' This is it when things are peaceful with
us; how much greater is our need of it then in times like these?"

It is said that it was but shortly after this when Rabbi Akiba was
imprisoned for teaching the law, and in the prison in which he was
incarcerated he found Papus, who had been condemned for some other
offense.

Rabbi Akiba said to him:--

"Papus, what brought thee here?"

And Papus replied:--

"Joy, joy, to thee, that thou art imprisoned for studying God's law; but
woe, woe is mine that I am here through vanity."

When Rabbi Akiba was led forth to execution, it was just at the time of
the morning service.

"'Hear, O Israel! the Lord our God, the Lord is one,'" he exclaimed in a
loud and firm voice.

The torturers tore his flesh with pointed cards, yet still he repeated,
"The Lord is one."

"Always did I say," he continued, "that 'with all thy soul,' meant even
though life should be demanded of thee, and I wondered whether I should
ever be able to so observe it. Now see, to-day, I do so; 'the Lord is
one.'"

With these word he died.

* * * * *

Elishah ben Abuyah, a most learned man, became in after-life an
apostate. Rabbi Meir had been one of his pupils, and he never failed in
the great love which he bore for his teacher.

It happened upon one occasion when Rabbi Meir was lecturing in the
college, that some students entered and said to him:--

"Thy teacher, Elishah, is riding by on horseback on this holy Sabbath
day."