24,000 Students of Rabbi Akiva Died | Rabbi Ari Enkin

we currently find ourselves in a period of mourning the days between passover and lag baomer 33 days are used to reflect upon the students of rabbi akiva 24 000 students of ravi akiva were killed by a mysterious plague during these days as such we mourn we don't have haircuts and we generally don't shave no live music no celebrations are held the question is asked when it comes to all the days you remember crusades and pogroms and the holocaust inquisitions anti-semitism we don't have any mourning restrictions why is that that for the rabbinical students we observe all kinds of aspects of mourning but for crusades and inquisitions we don't and the answers explained is that the 24 000 students at ravi akiva died because they didn't respect one another said rabbi akiva this is one of the most fundamental principles of the entire torah can you imagine the great rabbi who taught the loving your fellow as you love yourself respecting others his students died during this time and that's why it's such a great tragedy that we have to have certain warning restrictions we can disagree we can have different opinions but we can never forgo the biblical requirement to love your fellow as you love yourself because once disrespect takes over disregard arrogance society falls apart but when we respect each other and respect the other person's view and opinion we build society we build the jewish people so let's take these days of mourning and reflect upon what caused them disrespect and fix ourselves to show unconditional love to everyone we meet regardless if we agree with them or not [Music]