Map of Keziv

The Gemara on Avodah Zarah 26 tells stories to support previous teachings that a Jew who is traveling among pagans needs to be careful in their presence, and to refrain from giving clear information about his ultimate destination. In one of these stories, Rabbi Akiva's students were traveling to Keziv and found themselves amongst a band of robbers. Telling the robbers that they were planning on going to Acco - which was further south - they left the road at Keziv, leading the robbers to praise them and their teacher for their care in traveling.

(This image was taken from the Hebrew edition of the Steinsaltz Talmud, Tractate Avodah Zarah, page 109. To order your copy of the Steinsaltz Talmud, click here (Hebrew site), contact your local Jewish bookstore, or e-mail Koren Books at Bezalel@korenpub.com.)