Page 113 - issue
P. 113
Sefira Beards
The future of Torah tradition lay in the hands of Rabbi DAVID J. COHEN ©WWW
Akiva’s students. That future was lost with them. Had Rabbi
Akiva not salvaged five students, as the Talmud continues to Private Investigator
relate, we would have been bereft from Torah tradition forev-
er. The Torah survived, but we lost the additional Torah DJC Investigative Group
insights and perspectives of 24,000, never to be regained.
Licensed And Bonded - NY • Licensed - Maryland
Why did the students die specifically during the time peri-
od between Pesach and Shavuos? Commentaries explain Specializing in Civil and
that since this is the time of sefira, we are obligated particu- Criminal Investigations
larly to count and show our respect and appreciation for the
Torah. As the Talmud in Yevamos comments, Rabbi Akiva’s Cell Phone: 917-301-0430
students died because they lacked respect for one another. E-mail: djc@djcinvestigativegroup.com
(This passage itself requires great explanation and is certain-
ly not to be taken at face value, but that is beyond the scope www.djcinvestigativegroup.com
of this essay.) If they failed to show respect for each other as
Torah scholars, they apparently lacked a proper appreciation #1 PEST CONTROL SERVICE
for the Torah itself. This occurred at a time when G-d expects
a heightened awareness of the respect that Torah is owed. 410-764-7500E2x5peYreieanrsce• Squirrels
Hence, the 24,000 students died specifically between Pesach • Ticks
and Shavuos.
• Waterbugs • Termites
Originally, we were to have expressed our respect and • Bed Bugs • Mice
honor for the Torah in a positive vein by counting excitedly • Bees
to Shavuos. Now we still express our appreciation and tribute
for the Torah – but in mourning. We grow our beards and • Roaches • Rats • Ants
refrain from music and weddings as mourners do because we
show our respect for Torah in feeling the pain of the Torah • Fleas • Bats • Spiders
lost in the deaths of the 24,000.
Fast Professional Exterminating Specialist
In a certain sense, we mourn the fact that we, as a nation, Lowest Rates • Satisfaction Guaranteed
could not suffice in showing our connection to Torah through
joyous counting. God’s Providence deemed it necessary for
us to mourn during this time and express reverence for Torah
in a sad, depressing fashion. Our glorious, magnificent sefira
period has become a long 49-day season of mourning.
So, is a “sefira beard” really such a contradiction in terms?
Yes. It’s almost like saying “joyous mourning.” But the term
reminds us of the catastrophic metamorphosis of the sefiras
ha’omer counting period which changed from immense joy
to sorrowful grief. We went from sefira – a passionate count-
ing – to a mourner’s beard.
The sefiras ha’omer period is a time for us to prepare for
the giving of the Torah. Whereas Rabbi Akiva’s students
failed (in some subtle regard) in their preparations, we must
not. God is looking down upon us, searching for our show of
excitement for Torah. We can expose our joy for Torah by try-
ing to become better people, worthy of accepting a Torah.
Many attempt to work on their character during this time
and use the 48 Ways to Wisdom from Pirkei Avos – one for
each day and the last day for review – as their guide. It is
clear though that these 49 days are days of judgment. We
must respond accordingly and get ready for Shavuos.
It is a repetitive theme in Judaism, which we cannot
escape: We must be continually growing.◆
Reprinted from Aish.com
u 410 358 8509 u 105
The future of Torah tradition lay in the hands of Rabbi DAVID J. COHEN ©WWW
Akiva’s students. That future was lost with them. Had Rabbi
Akiva not salvaged five students, as the Talmud continues to Private Investigator
relate, we would have been bereft from Torah tradition forev-
er. The Torah survived, but we lost the additional Torah DJC Investigative Group
insights and perspectives of 24,000, never to be regained.
Licensed And Bonded - NY • Licensed - Maryland
Why did the students die specifically during the time peri-
od between Pesach and Shavuos? Commentaries explain Specializing in Civil and
that since this is the time of sefira, we are obligated particu- Criminal Investigations
larly to count and show our respect and appreciation for the
Torah. As the Talmud in Yevamos comments, Rabbi Akiva’s Cell Phone: 917-301-0430
students died because they lacked respect for one another. E-mail: djc@djcinvestigativegroup.com
(This passage itself requires great explanation and is certain-
ly not to be taken at face value, but that is beyond the scope www.djcinvestigativegroup.com
of this essay.) If they failed to show respect for each other as
Torah scholars, they apparently lacked a proper appreciation #1 PEST CONTROL SERVICE
for the Torah itself. This occurred at a time when G-d expects
a heightened awareness of the respect that Torah is owed. 410-764-7500E2x5peYreieanrsce• Squirrels
Hence, the 24,000 students died specifically between Pesach • Ticks
and Shavuos.
• Waterbugs • Termites
Originally, we were to have expressed our respect and • Bed Bugs • Mice
honor for the Torah in a positive vein by counting excitedly • Bees
to Shavuos. Now we still express our appreciation and tribute
for the Torah – but in mourning. We grow our beards and • Roaches • Rats • Ants
refrain from music and weddings as mourners do because we
show our respect for Torah in feeling the pain of the Torah • Fleas • Bats • Spiders
lost in the deaths of the 24,000.
Fast Professional Exterminating Specialist
In a certain sense, we mourn the fact that we, as a nation, Lowest Rates • Satisfaction Guaranteed
could not suffice in showing our connection to Torah through
joyous counting. God’s Providence deemed it necessary for
us to mourn during this time and express reverence for Torah
in a sad, depressing fashion. Our glorious, magnificent sefira
period has become a long 49-day season of mourning.
So, is a “sefira beard” really such a contradiction in terms?
Yes. It’s almost like saying “joyous mourning.” But the term
reminds us of the catastrophic metamorphosis of the sefiras
ha’omer counting period which changed from immense joy
to sorrowful grief. We went from sefira – a passionate count-
ing – to a mourner’s beard.
The sefiras ha’omer period is a time for us to prepare for
the giving of the Torah. Whereas Rabbi Akiva’s students
failed (in some subtle regard) in their preparations, we must
not. God is looking down upon us, searching for our show of
excitement for Torah. We can expose our joy for Torah by try-
ing to become better people, worthy of accepting a Torah.
Many attempt to work on their character during this time
and use the 48 Ways to Wisdom from Pirkei Avos – one for
each day and the last day for review – as their guide. It is
clear though that these 49 days are days of judgment. We
must respond accordingly and get ready for Shavuos.
It is a repetitive theme in Judaism, which we cannot
escape: We must be continually growing.◆
Reprinted from Aish.com
u 410 358 8509 u 105
