Many Torah giants have died in Jewish history, but based upon many conclusive and convincing rabbinic, historic and archaeological sources, I strongly agree with those that say that the 24,000 students of R. Akiva whom we mourn, were murdered, as R. Akiva himself, by the Romans in the Bar Kochva rebellion which took place precisely at that time (122-130 C.E.). [Otherwise, since when do “plagues” only strike young and strong yeshiva boys more than the elderly, pregnant and infants?!]
We know that R. Akiva and inevitably his yeshiva and followers, were the most active participants and supporters of that rebellion (see Y’rushalmi Ta’anit 4, 5; Rambam, M’lachim 11, 3; ibid, Ta’aniot 5, 3; Igeret Rav Shrira Gaon, edited from ancient manuscripts by R. Dr. B.M. Lewin, and much more). This explanation has been around a long time, but the problem is that either the Romans or self-censorship, removed almost everything about the rebellion from Chazal. I’ve myself published in Hebrew on the topic after finding additional proofs (just Google : המעין ארי שבט עקיבא כוכבא or for an English class, Google: YUTorah Ari Shvat Kochva Akiva, where I elaborate and bezH answer all the inevitable questions). In the brief scope of this framework, I’ll just point out that the Talmud Y’rushalmi and Rambam there, state that R. Akiva and all of the greatest scholars of his time (= his 24,000 students, the rabbinic center of the period) were supporters of Bar Kochva, and were killed by the Romans. Moreover, the Rambam (ibid) sees them as the rabbinic approach and model messianic movement, to naturally and actively bring the ge’ula, and save Israel from our enemies.
Many remember when the other rabbis cried and R. Akiva laughed upon seeing a fox in the destroyed Holy Temple (Makot 24b), but don’t notice that he explains, “just as the 1st prophecy (of destruction) came true, so too, the 2nd prophecy (of redemption) is BEING fulfilled” (“מתקיימת”), in the present, not that it will come (“תתקיים”) in the future! He was stressing, “we’re going to do something about fulfilling that ge’ula”, via joining Bar Kochva. Now we also understand their reaction: “Akiva, you have comforted us”.
We also now comprehend the seemingly strange story (Brachot 60b), where R. Akiva wants to sleep in a city, and everyone refuses to host the greatest rabbi since Moshe Rabbenu (Menachot 29b). As his torch is extinguished, his donkey wolfed, his rooster devoured, he “nebech” sleeps alone in the desert and keeps repeating “it’s all for the best!”. But when “coincidentally” that night the Romans “happened” to arrest the entire city where he wished to sleep, and he realizes why everything in the end was, “all for the best”, WE realize why nobody wanted to host the most respected Jew of his time? For the Romans were apparently “on his tail”, and heard he came to town, and in order to capture the spiritual leader of the rebellion, they didn’t take chances and arrested the whole city!
In the same way, we now realize why R. Shimon bar Yochai (Shabbat 33) and R. Meir (Avodah Zara 18b) are “Wanted Dead or Alive” by the Romans, for we know well, they also are among R. Akiva’s students! It also now makes sense why the 4 species minted on the Bar Kochva coins, have only 1 hadass and 1 arava (instead of 3 and 2 respectively, as we do today following R. Yishma’el’s custom, and as traditionally found on all other “lulav” coins from previous Jewish kingdoms), for the rebels followed R. Akiva’s dissenting opinion (Sukka 34b), that it’s enough to have ONE of each of the 4 species! (to see, just Google: Bar Kochva coin lulav). In short, the Bar Kochva rebellion was the students of R. Akiva!
Similarly, the historic background helps us understand why R. Akiva (Rosh HaShana 26a) is amazingly found in Arabia, Africa and Europe way before “frequent fliers”! Not only as an “underground” fugitive, but R. Akiva was apparently the 1st “shaliach Bnei AKIVA”, going around to gather the exiles!
Accordingly, the Rambam writes that the crushing of the BK rebellion after several years (!) of independence, and the disappointment of the great hope they had to build the Third Commonwealth, was not just a health problem in one particular yeshiva, but a historic and national tragedy (!), which he likens to the destructions of the 2 Temples (hil. Ta’aniot 5, 3)! Accordingly, it’s totally understood why this period’s customs resemble the 3 weeks, when we mourn the destruction of the Temples.
Unfortunately, 1800 long years of galut (exile) warped the picture of the ideal and original Jew. We stopped serving in the army because it wasn’t ours, and “we forgot the Israel has a holy body, not just a holy soul” (Rav Kook, Orot, p. 33).
I’ll also point out for those who are looking for the Torah-true and genuine approach to Judaism, that these 24,000 holy rabbis, whom we respect as THE transmitters of the Oral Law, were “Hesder Yeshiva” boys, combining Torah with army service just like Moshe, Yehoshua, David HaMelech and all the Tanach heroes. BH, today, the picture of the Living Torah and Ideal Jew has returned, in today’s soldiers having a “healthy soul in a healthy body” (R. Kook, Orot haTeshuva 5, 1), and that’s who, bezH, has the enemies of Israel “on the run”.
We finally understand what Lag BaOmer has to do with the “bow and arrows” and “bonfires” out in nature, which were the life-style of R. Akiva’s fugitive students!
But let’s make sure that this time, WE respect each other’s opinions, and obey our commanders and governments!
Shabbat Shalom and “Lag Same’ach”! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)