Yesterday’s blog gave an overview of the Omer Period, when Jews brought daily grain offerings to the HolyTemple between the holidays of Passover and Shavuos. Although the Omer Period can be considered a time of gladness, there is also an aspect of mourning at this time, and this is the reason why many Jews do not perform weddings, take haircuts or buy new clothes during this period. The tradition of mourning comes from the fact that, during this time, 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples died in a plague. To fully appreciate the extent of this tragedy, it is worth discussing the importance of Rabbi Akiva.
Rabbi Akiva lived during the second Temple period and saw its destruction by the Romans. No one would have believed that he was destined to become a great scholar. He was descended from converts who did not have an opportunity to learn very much about Judaism, and as a young man, he had no interest in learning. His wealthy father-in-law disowned the young couple, because he wanted his daughter to marry a Torah sage. Little did he know that his son-in-law would be among the Torah giants of his generation.
At the age of 40, Rabbi Akiva was strolling past a river bed. He noticed how a rivulet of water had worn an indentation in a gigantic rock. He remarked, “If plain water can bore a hole through this rock, then the Torah can make an impression on my mind.” (this analogy is apt, because according to Kabbala, water corresponds to Torah). With his wife’s blessing, (indeed, this was the realization of her dreams) Rabbi Akiva went off and learned Torah for twelve years.
This story teaches us that, no matter how old (or young) one is, it is never too late to learn. Rabbi Akiva, beginning from scratch at the age of 40, acquired vast Torah knowledge and the 24,000 disciples who perished in the plague. In spite of this tragedy, Rabbi Akiva’s legacy lives on. I will continue to talk about Rabbi Akiva, Gd willing, in tommorrow’s blog.