Not to make light of this great story, of Rabbi Akiva, or of anyone else, but many find the same element - “love they neighbor as thyself” - as core in the teachings of Yeshua, whom Christians accepted as Messiah.
If only it were also true that Christians followed Rabbi Akiva’s advice concerning the necessity of the application of that teaching to the study and teaching of scripture.
I believe the advice, and the necessity for it, comes from the fact that G-d is divine, perfect and the Inspiration given from G-d is divine, perfect but the human mind and heart are not divine, perfect and thus as receptors of that inspiration we are not able, not capable of divine, perfect transmission, translation to others the inspiration we have received. If we have love and respect for our fellow believers then we must accept that our differences are due to our own imperfections and not G-d’s inspiration.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
“Love your neighbor as yourself” is in Leviticus (Leviticus 19:18). It wasn’t a teaching unique to Hillel, Akiva or Jesus. It’s basic Jewish law.