Lag BaOmer, the thirty third day of the counting of the Omer
,falls out this year on Motzei Shabbat (Saturday night) and Sunday.
One of the reasons why Lag BaOmer is celebrated is because
it marks the day that the plague which killed many of Rabbi Akiva’s students
ended.
Why did 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva die during this period?
According to Tractate Yevamot 62b, the students did not show sufficient honor
to each other.
After the tragedy, Rabbi Akiva was left with only five
students. Rabbi Akiva made sure to tell those five students not to make the
same mistakes that their friends made and he continued to teach the concept of
“Love your fellow as yourself.”
How did Rabbi Akiva become such a great man?
According to Tractate Ketubot 62b, Rabbi Akiva was
originally a shepherd for Ben Kalba Savua, a very wealthy man. Rachel, Ben
Kalba Savua’s daughter saw that he was modest and of fine character (even
though at that point he was an ignorant shepherd). She asked him if he would go
study Torah in the Yeshiva. He said yes, they got married secretly and he went
away to study in the Yeshiva for twelve years. When Rachel’s father heard who
she had married he made a vow prohibiting her to benefit from his possessions.
After twelve years at the Yeshiva, Rabbi Akiva returned with 12,000 students.
When he was almost home, Rabbi Akiva heard an elderly man ask Rachel how much
longer she will live a life of widowhood. Rachel answered that if it was up to
her, he would go back to the Yeshiva for another twelve years. After studying
at the Yeshiva for twelve more years, Rabbi Akiva returned with 24,000
students. When Rachel heard that he had returned she went out to greet him. The
first person who saw her was extremely disrespectful and told her to borrow
some suitable clothing. When she reached Rabbi Akiva, his attendants tried to
push her away. When Rabbi Akiva saw this he said: “Leave her alone! The portion
of Torah that is mine and the portion of Torah that is yours belong to her.”
Rachel’s father heard that a great scholar came to town. He didn’t know that it
was Rabbi Akiva. He finally decided to annul his vow. Rabbi Akiva admitted that
he in fact was Rachel’s husband and Ben Kalba Savua gave them half of his
possessions.
We see from here that Rabbi Akiva became a great scholar
because of his wife Rachel’s encouragement and not only did he not forget that
fact, he was proud to acknowledge it.
It is clear from the story of Rabbi Akiva and Rachel that behind
every great man is a great woman!
As we celebrate Lag BaOmer let’s remember to follow Rabbi
Akiva’s teaching: “Love your fellow as yourself.”
