The Students of Rabbi Akiva

The Gemara (Yevamot 62b) describes how Rabbi Akiva had 12,000 pairs of students-from Gevat to Antipatro- who died of a terrible plague during the period from Pesach to Shavuot, corresponding with the omer. The Sages teach that they died as a punishment for failing to show respect to each other.

We know that the Bayit Shayni/Second Temple was destroyed because of baseless hatred. This sin has yet to be rectified as we remain without the Beit HaMikdash. The inability to bring offerings to the Temple, especially the omer, is a painful reminder of this as we empty-handedly count the omer. It is therefore not a mere coincidence that Rabbi Akiva's students died during this time.

The Aruch HaShulchan writes that, "These days between Pesach and Shavuot are established by all of Israel as days of judgment and mourning, because in this short period of time, the students of Rabbi Akiva died. Furthermore, in the past, we have seen that the main fulfillment of decrees against us in Germany and France took place during this time period, and ..." therefore, the Aruch HaShulchan says, we have the custom to maintain certain practices associated with mourning.

From Isru Chag Pesach/day following until the 33th day of the Omer the Shulchan Aruch writes that we do not marry due to the deaths of the students of Rabbi Akiva, but engagements during this period are permitted. It is also the custom during this time to diminish in joy, including listening to music. In addition men refrain from shaving and cutting their hair (Sefardim wait until the 34th day of the omer to cut their hair and marry unless the 34th day is Shabbat. Some Ashkenazi communities observe these customs beginning Rosh Chodesh Iyar.). It is preferable to avoid saying a shechianu except in Shabbat unless you will miss the opportunity to say the blessing and cannot do so at a later time.

All of these customs are customs of mourning and are designed to educate us in the gravity of the loss of these 24,000 scholars. One might ask, "Why do we make such a big deal out of this specific tragedy when throughout the history of our 2,000 years in Exile we have suffered loss and destruction?" The answer is two-fold.

When these scholars died, we not only loss them, but we lost all their Torah. We mourn them, but more so we mourn their knowledge. Of all his students, only five survived the plague and whatever Oral Tradition we have today is from them. Therefore one cannot even imagine the magnitude of Torah that we lost.

Additionally we mourn that the reason why they died was because they lacked unity and respect for each other. Rabbi Akiva's greatest teaching was, "Love your companion as yourself." His students failed to learn this from their teacher. One can acquire vast amounts of knowledge and Torah, but if one doesn't work on one's midot and have derech eretz, then one hasn't really acquired any Torah. Therefore it is most fitting that we refrain from marriage during this time. How can one unite and form a family unit as the nation is divided? How can one build during a time of mourning and destruction?

The Omer and Honey
Peaks and Valleys - The Good Omer and the Bad Omer
Omer Personalities - R' Akiva and R' Shimon Bar Yochai
From Beast to Man
From Matzos to Cheesecake
Lag B'Omer - Breaking up the Count
Mitzvah lesaper et haMispar hamesaper
Not Fowl, but Foul
One Long Party: Pesach to Shavuot
Oops, I forgot to Count the Omer
Sheva Shabbatot temimot tiyenah
The Best Unbroken Chain
The Mourning after the Night Before
The Students of Rabbi Akiva
What Does Lev Tov Have to do with Sfira?
The Counting of The Omer
Lag B'Omer - The 33rd Day