Rabbi Akiva is best known to us for his monumental accomplishments in the realm of Torah scholarship. Although he began his study of Torah late in life, he developed into the greatest teacher and sage of his generation, amassing 24,000 students. But less known is his role as a great fund-raiser for charity for the poor.
Rabbi Akiva travelled far and wide to collect large sums of money to assist the poor. One day, as he sat at his table counting the money he had collected, he came to the unhappy realisation that it was not nearly enough to cover for the needs of the poor. "Where can I get the necessary amount?" he asked himself as he pondered the problem.
Then, he suddenly had an idea. Not far away, near the seashore, lived a very wealthy Roman woman. Although not a Jew, she believed in G-d and had great admiration for the Jewish Sages.
Early the next morning, Rabbi Akiva made his way to her luxurious home. When she realised who her guest was, she ushered him in and invited him to be seated. She listened as Rabbi Akiva made his request, and she replied: "I would certainly lend you the money, even though it is a very large sum, but who will act as the guarantor for such a loan?"
Rabbi Akiva couldn't think of any one. "Choose whomever you wish," was his reply. The woman sat down to think, her eyes gazing out to sea. As she listened to the sound of the waves, she smiled and said: "I declare the G-d of Israel and the sea to be the guarantors for this loan and to ensure that the money will be returned to me on time when this loan becomes due!" And with that, Rabbi Akiva left with the money in hand.
Alas, the day arrived when the loan became due, but Rabbi Akiva lay ill, unable to arrange for the repayment of this loan on time.
In her home, the woman waited patiently, but continuously wondered, "Where was Rabbi Akiva?" As the day drew to a close, she thought, "Perhaps he won't be coming after all. Maybe I shouldn't have loaned him the money."
But her good nature and trust returned, and she thought, "Maybe something happened to him. Maybe he is sick etc. Whatever reason there may be for this delay, I still need it returned, and would like to have this money back today."
As the sun began to set, she walked out to the shore and addressed herself to G-d: "Only You know why Rabbi Akiva hasn't come. Maybe he is ill, or forgot about it, but I need the money today. G-d and the sea, I trusted you to act as his guarantor, and I therefore expect you to return the money to me!"
As she ended her prayer, she raised her eyes, and astonishment replaced her previous emotions. Floating towards her on the waves was a magnificent chest. She opened it to find a fortune of gold and precious gems.
Far away across the sea, a princess had been strolling down the beach. She was accompanied by a servant who carried a small chest filled with gold and jewels, a gift from some visiting nobles. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, the princess grabbed the box and tossed it far into the sea. The startled servant, thinking the princess had lost her reason, tried to retrieve the box, but to no avail. The waves had carried the precious treasure far out to sea.
Soon, Rabbi Akiva recovered from his illness and hurried to the Roman to return her money. "No, you owe me nothing; your G-d has already repaid your debt."
She proceeded to recount the wondrous story of the treasure chest which the sea had cast upon the shore. "I have already taken what was due to me. You can therefore keep what you have to also distribute to the poor who need it so desperately."
