August 7, 2026
Rabbi Akiva was one of the greatest rabbis in the Talmud. His journey to reach such acclaim was quite different from those of his colleagues. In modern discourse, we might call Rabbi Akiva a “second career” rabbi. He began his life as a shepherd working for Kalba Savua. After marrying Kalba Savua’s daughter, Rachel, Akiva arrived at the study of Torah at the age of forty.
In the rabbinic text Avot de-Rabbi Natan, we learn about his beginnings. The text teaches that Rabbi Akiva was forty years old but had not learned a thing. Once, he was standing at the mouth of a well, and he said, “Who carved this rock?” They said, “The water that consistently falls on it every day.” Then, quoting the Book of Job (14:19), they said, “Akiva, did you not read that water wears away stones?” Akiva then reasoned, “Just as the soft sculpts the hard, words of Torah, which are iron, will all the more so carve my heart, which is flesh and blood.” He then returned to Torah study (Avot de-Rabbi Natan 1:4). Rabbi Akiva’s lesson is that if something as soft as water has the potential to carve stone, then the Torah, which is as durable as iron, has the potential to shape a human being.
To come to the gift of Torah study is like drinking from the pure waters of the well. Torah study shapes us, guides us, and draws us closer to our tradition and our people. Two of the most joyful hours of my week are the hour when I immerse myself in Torah study on Shabbat morning with our wonderful community—join us on Zoom every Shabbat morning from 9:00–10:00 a.m.—and the hour I spend engrossed in learning sacred texts with our Confirmation students in 10th grade. These two hours provide me with joy and the potential for “aha” moments when learners of all ages, including me, discover new insights about our tradition and how it applies to the world in which we live.
One of the beautiful aspects of Jewish learning is that we can come to it at any age. What we find when we knock on Torah’s door is an ocean of knowledge and connection that brings new insights to our lives. As we grow, those insights and that wisdom have the potential to become deeper and more nuanced. The more questions we bring, the more we are able to swim in the sea of Jewish learning.
Tonight, we celebrate the commitment of 13 individuals who have decided to embark on a personal journey of Jewish learning. There has been a fire in their hearts to mark their commitment to Jewish learning and the Jewish community as they become Adult B’nai Mitzvah! Last fall, this wonderful group of adult learners committed themselves to learning Hebrew and deepening their commitment to Jewish education. They spent Monday evenings learning together as a community. Rabbi Martin, Morissa, and I have enjoyed these hours of learning with them as well.
Their journey culminates this evening with an Adult B’nai Mitzvah ceremony in which they will each read from the Torah and share their journey with us. We know how challenging it can be to make such commitments as adults. Life’s winding pathways can bring many distractions, and committing to learning about our sacred texts, sacred times, and sacred places, as well as learning to read Hebrew, can present many challenges. I hope you will join us tonight as we celebrate with our Adult B’nai Mitzvah class. Perhaps these adult learners might spark your interest in pursuing your own pathway of learning. Let us all join in wishing them mazel tov!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Rick Kellner