This week's Dvar Torah is dedicated to the memory of Dov Yaakov ben Tzvi (Perry Mendelson) on his Shloshim, may his neshama have an aliyah.

Many of you have probably already heard or woke up to the tragic news from Lag Baomer celebrations in Meron. The country is in a literal state of mourning and disbelief. As a nation and community it is a cause for deep introspection and for prayer for all of those injured, missing and stranded. 

Today is the 33rd day of the Omer counting, known as Lag Ba'omer. Tradition tells us that on this day the students of Rabbi Akiva who all died during the Omer period ceased to die on this day. We also have a tradition that today is the day of "celebration of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochi". There is an ancient custom in Israel for people to make the yearly pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochi and his son who are buried in Meron and to celebrate there.

There is a deep lesson though to the sense of happiness and celebration on this day. Rabbi Akiva at the age of 40 decided on the urging of his wife to begin to undertake the study of Torah. He was not a learned man up until that point, but he left his home for 20 years to immerse himself in his studies and became the leading Torah Sage of his time. He amassed 48,000 students during that period and the Sages tell us that they all perished during Sefiras HaOmer (from Passover to Shavuos). Imagine a man in his 60's who sacrificed so much on so many levels to suddenly lose it all. He had literally built a Torah empire and in a few weeks everything was wiped out. Rabbi Akiva (as many other people would have done) could have fallen into despair and given up. He could have "retired" and left it all, who could have burdened from many questions of faith and justice, but what did he do? Our Sages teach us that Rabbi Akiva gathered 5 students and began once again to teach them Torah. It is upon the foundation of these 5 students that Rabbi Akiva upheld the Torah. One of those students was none other than Rabbi Shimon bar Yochi. One of the messages of this celebration is that after so much tragedy Rabbi Akiva rebuilt, he didn't give up and he didn't give in. We must all take this lesson to heart no matter what difficulties, tragedies or failures (Chas V'shalom) we may face we need to turn around and rebuild!

May Hashem send a speedy recovery to all of our sick and injured brothers and sisters.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath