9893 —לקחים מלג בעומר ומתלמידי רבי עקיבא

B"H, 13 Iyar, 5730.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

To all the boys and girls participating in the activities for the auspicious day of Lag BaOmer — may they live — Shalom u'Vrachah!

It was with pleasure that I received the news about the activities being organized in connection with the auspicious day of Lag BaOmer approaching us for good. May it be G‑d's will that they be very successful. Success here means that these activities will bring vitality and additional strength to your ongoing progress in learning our Torah, a Torah of life, which is a guide for daily living — true daily life — in a manner worthy of its name; learning that leads to action, fulfilling mitzvos with excellence, as it says: "V'Chai Bahem" (and you shall live by them).

The well-known story from the Gemara regarding Lag BaOmer tells how Rabbi Akiva's students died because they did not show proper respect for one another, and on Lag BaOmer they stopped dying. Like all stories in Torah — which are themselves Torah and meant to teach us — this story about Rabbi Akiva's students contains a lesson for every Jew, especially students — may you live. By way of introduction: since the Gemara testifies that they were students of Rabbi Akiva, it is understood that they deserved this title; meaning they learned as taught by their great teacher and sage with diligence and devotion and fulfilled his mitzvos with self-sacrifice. Thus, their lack of respect for one another was not over trivial matters but had a foundation and reasoning appropriate to their level as Rabbi Akiva's students.

The explanation is based on our Sages' statement that people's opinions are not alike. From this we understand that even in serving Hashem — in Torah study and mitzvah observance — people differ: one serves mainly out of love for Hashem; another out of awe; another through acceptance of the yoke; etc. Yet regarding actual practice there is no difference between them; all fulfilled the mitzvos completely. And since they were Rabbi Akiva's students, certainly they were men of truth whose service was genuine and internalized so deeply that only their own approach seemed truly correct to them; anyone who had not reached their level was seen as lacking completeness.

And since they were students of Rabbi Akiva who said "Ve'Ahavta L'Reiacha Kamocha" (love your fellow as yourself) is a great principle in Torah, they did not suffice with advancing themselves but also tried to influence their friends to serve Hashem specifically in their own way. Those who did not accept this could not be shown full respect as befitting Rabbi Akiva's students.

From this we learn how each of us should behave. The lesson has three points: (a) Serving Hashem through Torah study and mitzvah observance — both between man and G‑d and between man and fellow — must be complete, genuine work infused with vitality affecting one's entire daily conduct; (b) This obviously includes "Ve'Ahavta L'Reiacha Kamocha," which must also be fulfilled with utmost vitality and completeness; (c) Alongside all this one must look favorably upon every Torah-observant Jew and show them great respect even if their path differs from one's own — since both serve Hashem though one does so mainly out of love while another out of awe, etc.

Another lesson from this story: even when meeting someone who has not yet reached proper service of Hashem, one must still show them respect per our Sages' teaching "Hevei Dan Et Kol HaAdam L'Kaf Zechut" (judge everyone favorably), especially since sometimes their shortcomings are not their fault but due to circumstances beyond their control preventing them from being raised on Torah foundations. On the contrary, such a person deserves even more compassion; we must try harder to help them rise in Judaism, Torah, and mitzvos — helping them in the best way possible with love, honor, and pleasantness.

Let us take as our example the great Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai — whose day of joy is Lag BaOmer — who said "I can exempt the whole world from judgment" (Sukkah 45b), wishing to give all his merits for those lacking merit everywhere in the world — all the more so regarding relatives or friends.

May it be G‑d's will that each one of you among all Israel act accordingly to the greatest extent possible with joy and gladness. May you go from strength to strength in all your endeavors until we see fulfilled what is written in this week's parsha connected to Lag BaOmer: "VaEshbor Motot Olchem VaOlekh Etchem Komemiyut" (I will break your yoke bars and lead you upright) — with the true and complete redemption through Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

Summary

This letter teaches us to infuse our learning and mitzvah observance with vitality while respecting every Jew regardless of differences. We should help others grow spiritually with love and compassion—especially those less fortunate—following Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s example on Lag BaOmer.