Mourning of the sefira

The forty-nine days of the sefira comes together with a period of mourning. During this time of year there was the death of 24,000 talmidim of R’ Akiva. There are various customs as to what days of the sefira to mourn them. The mourning is only in certain aspects like not getting married, having haircuts and listening to music.

R’ Akiva and his 24,000 talmidim

The Gemora (Kesubus 62b) tells us the background information of how and when R’ Akiva got these 24,000 talmidim. The daughter of Kalba Savua saw potential in the ignorant shepherd, (R’) Akiva and married him on condition he would go to learn. He went on to learn and returned after 24 years with 24,000 talmidim. The Gemora (Yevomas 62b) tells us how these 24,000 talmidim died from askara, (the worst of all deaths – Gemora Brochos 8a), between Pesach and Shavuous for not honouring each other appropriately.

Questions on the talmidim of R’ Akiva:

1. There have been many tragedies in Klal Yisroel. Why is this one singled out for public mourning for all future generations?
2. Why did so many talmidim die and what was the reason for their deaths?
3. Why did their deaths occur during this time of year?
4. Why is there so many opinions as to when they actually died?
5. How can it be that so many died in such a short space of time?

Answers on the talmidim of R’ Akiva:

1. The uniqueness of this tragedy is the fact that it’s negative affect had impacted all future generations and therefore we must all mourn. Most of the Gemora comes from R’ Akiva and his five new talmidim whom he taught after his loss of the 24,000 talmidim. Just imagine how much more Torah would have been passed on to us had these 24,000 talmidim remained alive!
2. Chazal say that the reason for their deaths was that they did not treat each other with enough respect. Although usually this act alone does not warrant death, perhaps it was because these talmidim were on such a high spiritual level that more was expected of them and their every action was judged with a magnifying glass.
3. They died specifically between Pesach and Shavuous since this is a time of din in the world. This is seen in two places: The Mishna in Idiyous (2:10) that according to the opinion of R’ Yochanon Ben Nuri that the reshoyim are judged in Gehinom between Pesach and Shavuous. Also, there is din on the produce as seen in the need to bring the Korban Omer by Pesach (see Gemora Rosh Hashana 16a).
4. Chazal say that the talmidim of R’ Akiva died over 33 days from between Pesach until Shavuos. Since the exact days of death are not known, this has led to many different customs as to which days to mourn on.
5. Perhaps the idea here is that this is unnatural. It is coming to show us that their deaths were a divine punishment.

Other sources on the talmidim of R’ Akiva:

• According to most sources all these 24,000 died within this short time period. However, there is a Midrash (Koheles Rabba, 11:10) that quotes R’ Akiva as saying that all these talmidim died in his lifetime from Pesach until Shavuous. The implication being that they did not die in one year but rather over many years. What struck R’ Akiva was how they all died only during this time of year.