Akiba
A Jewish rabbi of the first century, who, from being a simple shepherd, became a learned scholar, spurred by , spurred by the hope of winning the hand of a young lady he greatly admired. The Jews say that he was taught by the elemental spirits, that he was a conjurer, and that, in his best days, he had as many as 24,000 disciples. He is said to be the author of a famous work, entitled, Yetzirah (q.v., On the Creation), which is by some ascribed to Abraham, and even to Adam. It was first printed at Paris in 1552 .
Aksakof, (Alexandre) : A Russian statesman, whose name stands high in the spiritualistic annals of his country. his country .
Born in 1832, he was educated at the Imperial Lyceum of St. Petersburg, and afterwards became Councillor of State to the Emperor of Russia. He made his first acquaintance with spiritualism through the writings of Swedenborg , some of which he afterwards translated. Later, he studied , he studied the works of other spiritualistic writers. He was instrumental in bringing many mediums to Russia, and identified himself with Horne, Slade, and other well-known mediums, and later with Eusapia Palladino. Mainly at the instance of M. Aksakof, a Russian Scientific Committee was apwas appointed in 1877 to enquire into spiritualism, but its enquiry was conducted in a very half-hearted manner. M. Aksakof was for many years compelled to publish his psychic works and journals in Germany and other countries, on account of the prohibition of the Russian Government. (See Russia.)