The Orchard is a novel that takes place in the second century common era and concludes at the gruesome execution of Rabbi Akiva and the birth of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, the eventual leader and redactor of the Mishna. The book is a heavy and extensive political history of the Jewish people through the eyes of the wife of the famous rabbi, Rabbi Akiva. The author has a deep knowledge the contemporary rabbis of the period and she weaves in and out of their lives and moreover their disputes.
The story highlights some famous Talmudic stories like the insight of Kalba Savua's daughter in seeing a future Torah Great in one of her fathers employed shepherds, Akiva ben Joseph.
We are introduced to Rabbi Eliezer, through his wife Imma Shalom who has a deep relationship and understanding of Rachel, Rabbi Akiva's wife. Rabbi Eliezer is depicted as a vestige of the followers of school of Shamai (tracing the famous disputes between Hillel and Shamai) and as a result of Rabbi Akiva's emerging eminence of Biblical exegesis the School of Hillel becomes dominant and solidifies Rabbi Eliezer's isolation - halachically and socially.
We are introduced to the promoter of Christianity, Paul as related to Imma Shalom. Ms. Brandes assumes the opinion of some scholars that Paul was actually attempting a positive clear division between Jewish believers and those who believe in the Nazarene, that they should remain separate. We are introduced to the great debate of the rabbis on whether to ignore or fight the Nazarenes. We learn about the new petition that is added to the silent prayer that was known for its 18 petitions but now a 19th is added which is a reference to the elimination of this sectarian threat.
We learn of the harsh treatment of Rabbi Eliezer by Rabban Gamliel who excommunicated him but he, Rabban Gamliel too, was temporarily removed from office and replaced by Ben Zoma.
The books weaves in the story of the Bar Kochba revolt and how there was great infighting and dissension among the ranks of the rabbis. The book is very heavy on the disputes and dissension and quite light about Roman occupation. Although there is criticism of Rome, not until the ten rabbis are executed brutally does the reader see how outrageous Rome truly is.
The climax of the story is however is quite bitter. The Talmudic legend is highlighted: the mystical story of 4 rabbis entering the ORCHARD: Ben Zoma dies, Ben Azzai goes insane, Rabbi Elisha becomes an apostate/Roman citizen and Rabbi Akiva comes out whole. The character of the Rabbi Akiva's wife demands to know what happened in the ORCHARD and before Rabbi Akiva is executed Rachel is granted a private visit to her husband and gets the explosive answer that the future of Jewish history is surveyed as the most lachrymose manifestation nobody could foresee - a history of constant bullying and persecutions basically culminating in a Holocaust. As a result, one rabbi dies instantly one goes insane and one gets "angry at God" becoming an apostate and Akiva comes out whole. However, Akiva, for the author is not really whole, he concludes to his wife (by what he saw in the ORCHARD) that God will not help but rather we as the nation must act alone and not expect God to help. Rachel gives Akiva words of encouragement and reminds him of his courage to believe in Hashem and indeed, he shows magnificent courage as he is tortured to death, expiring with the recitation of the SHEMA just as the Talmudic story records. Jewish history is conceptualized to profound rupture and renewal by the fact the novel ends with the birth of the great sage Rabbi Yehuda who will go on to be part of a generation that shows profound religious literary output.
I could not help but notice that this best seller on its back cover noted some very well known and famous people praising the book. All of them seemed to me secular personages. The idea that the nation must act alone and not expect Divine help must resonate with those who do not believe in God. The notion that God will not help is not a belief in God but merely a belief in His help. I reject the last visit and conversation between Rabbi Akiva and his wife implying that Akiva's faith waivered and needed encouragement from his wife. The same Akiva that observed the stone being carved out and penetrated by the running water of the stream and connecting such power to Hashem to penetrate his own heart is the same powerful believer to see one last opportunity to do a mitzvah, reciting the Shema as opposed to saying "why have you forsaken me".
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