Parshat Emor – 5761 “Lag
BaOmer” On
Erev Shabbat, we passed another milestone in
the forty-nine day count of the “Sephirat HaOmer,”
referenced in this week’s Parshah, “Emor,” that ties together the
agricultural festivals of the spring and early summer. From
another perspective, it also ties together the Holiday of “Pesach,”
the holiday that celebrates our liberation from physical slavery in Egypt,
and “Shavuot,” the holiday of our
spiritual liberation, when we received the Torah from G-d on Mt. Sinai. The
milestone was “Lag BaOmer,” the
thirty-third day (“Lag” is an acronym consisting of the two Hebrew
letters “Lamed” and “Gimmel,” the combination whose “gematria,”
sum of numerical letter equivalents (30 for “Lamed,” 3 for “Gimmel”)
add up to 33), of the Omer-Count. On
this day, the partial mourning of the Omer period is suspended, and great
joy is expressed. This
Dvar Torah is based almost entirely on an essay, “The Mystery of Lag
BaOmer,” written by Rabbi Pinchas Stolper, a distinguished executive
retiree from the Orthodox Union. What
is the mystery? The
Babylonian Talmud (Masechet
Yevamot 62b) tells us that the reason for celebration of “Lag BaOmer” is
the ending of the plague that claimed the lives of 24,000 students of Rabbi
Akiva, who lived some 1,850 years ago.
The Talmud also tells us that the reason for that plague was that
“these students had not shown proper respect for each other.” (Incidentally,
the tie-in between spiritual causes and physical symptoms should be familiar
to us, having learned about “Tzara’at,” a disease no longer extant
(presumably because if it were, everyone of us would suffer from its
effects), the symptoms of which resembled leprosy, but which was caused by
“leshon ha-ra,” “evil speech,” or slander, in recent Parshiot.) The
central mystery of “Lag BaOmer,” according to Rabbi Stolper, is the very
fact of mourning at a time that one would have expected to be a time of joy,
and also the scale of mourning relative to that associated with other
national tragedies. Those
tragedies include the destruction of both Temples, and the breaking of the
Stone Tablets of the Covenant by Moses, as a result of the terrible sin of
the Golden Calf, that are marked by only one day of mourning (at the climax
of a three-week period). Letting Rabbi Stolper speak for himself: “What were Rabbi Akiva's students
guilty of that they deserved to die? If Rabbi Akiva's students died as a
result of G-d's punishment for their sins, why should we mourn them? Didn't
they deserve their punishment?” “Why is Lag Ba'Omer a day of
‘celebration’? If all that happened on Lag Ba'Omer was but a temporary
halt in the dying, wouldn't it be more fitting to set it aside as a memorial
day for the twenty-four thousand scholars who died?” “What is the connection between Lag
Ba'Omer and the revolt against the Romans by Bar
Kochba and his army? And how does all of this relate to Rabbi Shimon
Bar-Yochai, author of the mystical books of the 'Zohar' who lived in the
same era, about whom we sing on Lag Ba'Omer.” “And finally, why are all these
questions never discussed in the open, as are for example the Four Questions
of the Passover Seder?” “The answers to these and other
questions lie shrouded in the history of a turbulent age and in the
mysteries of the Jewish concept of the Messianic era.” “First, we must understand that much of
the material in the Talmud that deals with political matters was written
with a keen sensitivity to the Roman censor. The Talmud could not speak
openly concerning the political ramifications of events. In order to obtain
a true picture of what happened, we must piece together the story from
various historical sources and Talmudic hints. What we discover goes
something like this:” “The Second Temple was destroyed by the
Romans in the year 70 C.E. Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside lay in
ruins from border to border. Scores of thousands died in the fierce fighting
and subsequently from persecution and starvation; thousands more were sold
as slaves and forced into exile. The Romans considered the Jewish nation
defeated, obliterated and done for. The Roman General Titus erected a grand
victory monument in Rome which stands to this day that says just that -- the
famous Arch of Titus on which is inscribed Judea Capita -- Judea is kaput,
finished -- done for.” “But even in defeat the spiritual
leaders of the Jewish people struggled to rebuild Jewish life and recreate
Jewish institutions. They were so successful that around 135 C.E. a Jewish
military leader named Bar Kosiba succeeded in organizing a fighting force to
rid the Land of Israel of the hated Romans. Thousands rallied to his cause,
including the greatest Talmudic scholar of all times, the Tanna Rabbi Akiva
ben Yosef, whose insights and brilliant decisions fill the Mishnah.” “Many of Rabbi Akiva's contemporaries
felt that a new revolt against the Romans was doomed to failure and urged
the avoidance of bloodshed. But Bar Kosiba persisted and succeeded in
organizing and training a superb military force of 200,000 men. The Talmud
relates that Bar Kosiba demanded that each recruit demonstrate his bravery
by cutting off a finger -- when the Rabbis protested he substituted a new
test, each recruit was expected to uproot a young tree while riding a horse.
Such was the level of their bravery and readiness.” “Rabbi Akiva disagreed with his
Rabbinic colleagues and won over a majority to his point of view. From the
military point of view, he felt that a successful revolt was feasible. It is
said by some historians that twenty percent of the population of the Roman
Empire between Rome and Jerusalem was Jewish.“ “The pagan foundations of Rome were
crumbling. Many Romans were in search of a religious alternative -- which
many of them subsequently found in a mitzvah-less Christianity in the
following two centuries. Many Romans were attracted to Judaism, and
significant numbers converted. There were thousands -- tens of thousands of
sympathizers. Some members of the Roman Senate converted to Judaism. If the
large numbers of Jews who lived throughout the Roman Empire could be
inspired into coordinated anti-Roman revolts, many historians believe that
the prospects for toppling Rome were very real.” “And if the revolts succeeded and Jews
from all over the world united to return and rebuild their homeland, Rabbi
Akiva believed that they could bring about the Messianic Era -- the great
era of spirituality and universal peace foretold by Israel's Prophets -- the
great millennia during which all Jews would return to the land of Israel,
the Jerusalem Temple would be rebuilt and Israel would lead the world into
an era of justice, spiritual revival, and fulfillment.” “In his Laws of Kings, (Chapter 11:3)
Maimonides, in discussing the Messianic era says, ‘Do not think that the
King Messiah must work miracles and signs, create new natural phenomena,
restore the dead to life or perform similar miracles. This is not so. For
Rabbi Akiva was the wisest of the scholars of the Mishna and was the armor
bearer of Bar Kosiba (the actual family name of Bar Kochba) the King. He
said concerning Ben Kosiba that he is the King Messiah. Both he and the
sages of his generation believed that Bar Kosiba was the King Messiah, until
(Bar Kosiba) was killed because of his sins. Once he was killed, it became
evident to them that he was not the messiah.’ “ “To Bar Kochba and his officers, all
seemed to be in readiness; Rome was rotten and corrupt - many captive
nations strained at the yoke - rebellion was in the air. Rabbi Akiva (Jerusalem
Talmud: Ta'anit 4:15) gave Bar Kosiba a new name, "Bar Kochba"
- Son of the Star - in fulfillment of the prophecy -- "a star will go
forth from Jacob." Bar Kochba trained an army capable of igniting the
powder keg of rebellion and Rabbi Akiva lit it with one of the most dramatic
proclamations in Jewish history - he proclaimed that Bar Kochba was the long
awaited Messiah.” “One of the greatest Torah teachers and
leaders of all time, Rabbi Akiva could not have made this crucial and
radical declaration unless he was certain. He would never have proclaimed a
man Messiah unless he knew. Rabbi Akiva added a new, spiritual dimension to
the war of liberation. He attempted to merge the soldiers of the sword with
the soldiers of the book - his twenty- four thousand students - each a great
Torah scholar and leader.” “These outstanding scholars would
become the real "army" of the Jewish people, a spiritual and moral
force that would bring Torah to the entire world, overcoming anguish,
suffering, and the cruel boot of the corrupt Roman Empire. They would soon
inaugurate a new era of peace, righteousness, and justice, an era in which
"the Knowledge of G-d would cover the earth as water covers the
seas." The fact that the Jews were able to unite around a single leader
separates this event from the great revolt of the previous century when
bitterly divided factions warred with each other inside the walls of
Jerusalem even as the Roman army stormed the gates.” “The rebellion raged for six years. Bar
Kochba's army achieved many initial victories. Many non Jews joined Bar
Kochba's army -- it is reported that it grew to 350,000 men -- more men than
the Roman Army. Bar Kochba was so successful that Hadrian called in all of
his best troops from England and Gaul. Rome felt threatened as never before.
On Lag Ba'Omer, it is believed by some, Bar Kochba's army reconquered
Jerusalem, and we celebrate that great event today. For four years Jewish
independence was restored. Many believe that Bar Kochba actually began to
rebuild the Bait Hamikdash, the Temple. Some even believe that he completed
the building of the Third Temple.” “There were two Roman legions in the
country when the uprising began, one in Jerusalem and one near Megido. Both
were decimated by Bar Kochba's men. Reinforcements were dispatched from
Trans-Jordan, Syria and Egypt but these, too, were mauled. The legion sent
from Egypt, the 22nd, disappeared from the listings of military units
published in Rome, and scholars speculate that it was cut up so badly,
probably around Lachish, that it ceased to exist as an organized force. The
Jews apparently employed guerilla tactics - foraying from their underground
lairs, ambushing convoys and striking at night.” “In desperation, Hadrian sent for his
best commander, Julius Severus, who was then engaged in battle at the hills
of far off Wales. Severus imported legions from the lands of Britain,
Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria. So badly had the Romans been
hurt in the bruising campaign that Severus, upon returning to Rome to report
to the Senate on his success, omitted the customary formula ‘I and my army
are well.’ ” “This was total war. In the middle of
the effort to rebuild the Bait Hamikdash the tide turned and Bar Kochba lost
the support of Rabbi Akiva and the Sages who backed him. What happened? Bar
Kochba had murdered the Tannah Rabbi Elazar. He accused the great Rabbi of
revealing the secret entrances of the fortress city of Betar to the Romans.
It is now believed that this betrayal was the work of the Jewish Christians
who wanted to undermine Bar Kochba. Rabbi Akiva then realized that Bar
Kochba no longer possessed the qualities which initially led him to believe
that he was the Messiah.” “There was an additional spiritual
dimension to the failure of the Messiah-ship of Bar Kochba as well; whether
the spiritual failure of Rabbi Akiva's students was the cause -- or whether
it was the failure of Bar Kochba to rise to the spiritual heights expected
of the Messiah is beyond our knowledge. For then - out of the blue, the
great plague Askera descended and struck. The dream collapsed. For
reasons that will probably forever remain obscure, the students of Rabbi
Akiva were not considered by Heaven to have reached the supreme spiritual
heights necessary to bring about the Messianic Age. As great as they were,
an important factor was missing. “ “The Talmud tells us that "Rabbi
Akiva's students didn't show proper respect one for the other."
Precisely what this phrase refers to we do not know. With greatness comes
heightened responsibility and with greatness comes a magnification of reward
and punishment. For their failure and deficiencies - which would certainly
be counted as minor in a generation such as ours, but which were crucial for
great men on their high spiritual level - their mission was cancelled and
they died a mysterious death.” “With them died the Messianic hope of
that era and for thousands of years to come. Bar Kochba was not a false
messiah but a failed messiah. In the terrible war which followed, Bar Kochba
and his army were destroyed in the great battles defending the fortress city
of Betar. The war had been a catastrophe. Dodio Cassius reports the death of
580,000 Jews by Roman swords in addition to those who died of hunger and
disease. Some scholars think that the bulk of the Jewish population of Judea
was destroyed in battle and in subsequent massacres. One historian believes
that the Jews lost a third of their number in the war, perhaps more
fatalities than in the Great Revolt of the year 70.” “For the survivors, the Bar Kochba
uprising marked the great divide between the hope for national independence
and dispersal in the Diaspora. The trauma of Betar coming after the fall of
Jerusalem effected deep changes in the Jewish people. The stiff necked,
stubborn, fanatically independent people that did not hesitate to make
repeated suicidal lunges at the mightiest superpower of antiquity lost its
warlike instincts. It would be 2,000 years before there would be a Jewish
fighting force. As a result, the hope of the Jew for redemption was to be
delayed for at least two thousand years. In the great and tragic defeat not
only were between half a million to six hundred thousand Jews killed but the
Romans were determined, once and for all to uproot the Jewish religion and
the Jewish people - to bring an end to their hopes and their dreams.” “It is for this reason that we
mourn today. The mourning of Sefirah is not for the students alone, but for
the failure of the Jewish people to bring about the Messianic Age, for the
fall of the curtain on Jewish independence, Jewish hopes and Jewish
Messianic ambitions. Every anti-Semitic outbreak for which Jews suffered
since that day, every pogrom, massacre, crusade, Holocaust, and banishment
that took the toll of so many millions during the two thousand year long and
bitter night of exile, wandering and persecution, must be traced directly to
the failure of Bar Kochba -- but ultimately to the failure of the students
of Rabbi Akiva. This was a tragedy of inestimable proportions to a
war-ravaged world suffering under the bitter yoke of Rome as well as to the
Jewish people. Rome did not fall at that time, but its fury and rage led to
the exile and dismemberment of the Jewish people.” “Yet, on that very Lag Ba'Omer day two
thousand years ago, a new hidden light of hope emerged. In the midst of
defeat, the Tannah, Rabbi Shimon
Bar-Yochai revealed to a small number of students the secrets of the
mystical Zohar. In the Zohar, in
its formulas, disciplines and spirituality, lie the secrets whose seed will
bring about the coming of the Messiah. The Zohar's living tradition has kept
that hope alive down to this very day. On Lag Ba'Omer the plague stopped,
the dream was delayed, but it was not destroyed. It was to be nurtured
through the generations -- the stirrings of its realization enliven us
today.” “Because Lag Ba'Omer deals with the
secrets of the future Messianic Age, it cannot be discussed openly or
understood as clearly as can the Exodus or other events of the past.
Whenever we stand between Passover and Shavuot - between our physical
liberation from Egypt and our spiritual elevation during the Revelation at
Sinai we recall those chilling events. For today we are also able to
celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem and the site of our destroyed Temple.
History is bringing together so many crucial events, -- the history of our
ancient past is once again coming alive in the land of our fathers.” “There are frightening parallels
between our own age and the age of Rabbi Akiva and Bar Kochba. Following a
frightful Holocaust which many believed would spell the end of the Jewish
people, we experienced a restoration of Jewish independence -- once more did
a Jewish army score miraculous victories against overwhelming odds.
Following the destruction of the great European centers of Torah
scholarship, we witnessed the rebuilding of yeshivot in America and in
Israel. We experienced a great revival of Torah study. The teshuva movement
has brought about a return to Torah for so many who strayed. Jerusalem and
the Temple Mount are in our hands.” “All around us world empires are
tottering while despair and corruption rages. Once again, the Jewish people
has been entrusted with a great and frightful opportunity. Once again we
have been given the potential to recreate a Jewish civilization of Torah
greatness in our own land. Will we succeed or will our efforts be aborted
because of our own failures, our own inability to respect the differences
within the Torah community and unite the Jewish people to our cause?” “The personality of Rabbi Akiba itself
offers frightful lessons and opportunities. It was Rabbi Akiva who
understood that "love your fellow as you love yourself" is the
over-riding principle which the Torah people must internalize if it is to
achieve its goals. Rabbi Akiva, too, is the quintessential ba'al teshuva --
it was he who was forty years old and was unable to distinguish between an
aleph and a bet -- it was he who rose to be Jewry's greatest Torah
scholar.” “Hundreds of thousands of Jews;
Americans, Israelis, and Russians are today's potential Rabbi Akivas. The
fate of Jewry and the achievement of Heaven's greatest goals are in the
hands of this generation. Will we attempt to achieve them or will we
withdraw into our own selfish cocoons by refusing to shoulder the
responsibilities which history and history's God has set before us?” “It is not enough to wait for the
Messiah's coming; we must toil to perfect our Torah lives if we are to bring
about his speedy arrival. Only if we learn from the lesson of Rabbi Akiva's
students will we understand that the coming of the Messiah depends on us.” Rabbi Pinchas Frankel |
