…Have so many sad Halachos during Sefira, a happy time?
That’s a very thoughtful question! It can be confusing. Sefiras HaOmer is one of the happiest time periods of the year! We count each day with excitement as we approach Shavuos– the day we became Hashem’s forever! Every day is special by itself – a combination of the seven “main” sefiros, giving each day of Sefirah its own special avodah. It’s a very happy time… so why don’t we listen to music, make chasunos, etc.? So we all know that the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva died this time. The plague stopped on Lag BaOmer. But what do these two things have to do with each other?
Perhaps we can learn a very important lesson. On theThe talmidim of Rabbi Akiva didn’t give each other the proper respect. On their exalted level, this was viewed in Shomayim as if they were not fully living what they had learned. In order to receive the Torah for real, it’s important to make sure the Torah gets inside our neshamos. It shouldn’t just stay as facts or information for a test. When we let the Torah in and we live it, we will truly be ready for Kabolas HaTorah!
The Torah isn’t simply a collection of stories or even a sefer of Halachos. It is life itself. During this period of time, the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva teach us the extreme importance of living Torah, not just learning Torah. We have these minhagim to mourn the loss of these Tannaim, and to inspire us to get ready for Matan Torah!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 32.