The Garden of Akiva

The novel by contemporary Israeli writer Yochi Brandes is a narrative about the life of Rabbi Akiva, one of the most revered sages of the people of Israel to this day. He lived in the 1st-2nd centuries after the brutal suppression of the anti-Roman uprising, the destruction of the Second Temple, and the split with Christians. During this dramatic period in the history of the Jewish people, spiritual support for the Jews came from the legal scholars, the rabbis. They interpret the Torah, engage in fierce debates, reinterpret old rules, and develop new ones. But what becomes a real breath of fresh air, renewing the hope for liberation from the Romans, are the unusual interpretations of Rabbi Akiva, who alone seems to be able to see the hidden meaning of words.
Everything began when Rachel, the daughter of the richest man in Judea, saw in an uneducated and old shepherd the future great sage and for him was not afraid to go against the will of her powerful father…

Yochi Brandes is an author of historical novels and popular science books dedicated to Jewish culture and history, and is one of the most popular writers in Israel. Her books sell in hundreds of thousands of copies, and each has been awarded the title of "Platinum Book" by the Israel Publishers Association.