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1. I& #39;m sure people have made the connection between #Corona and the Omer and more will do so after Passover is over in the US.
Still, it& #39;s an important message that bears repeating.
Still, it& #39;s an important message that bears repeating.
2. According to Shulchan Aruch section 493:1, the time between Passover and Lag Ba& #39;omer is a time of mourning due to the death of R. Akiva& #39;s students
https://www.sefaria.org.il/Shulchan_Arukh%2C_Orach_Chayim.493?lang=bi">https://www.sefaria.org.il/Shulchan_...
https://www.sefaria.org.il/Shulchan_Arukh%2C_Orach_Chayim.493?lang=bi">https://www.sefaria.org.il/Shulchan_...
3. What happened with R. Akiva& #39;s students? According to the Talmud, 24,000 of R. Akiva& #39;s students (12k pairs) died at once because they didn& #39;t treat each other with respect (Yevamot 62a)
https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.62b.9?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en">https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.6...
https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.62b.9?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en">https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.6...
4. The Talmud continues saying that they died a "bad death" with R. Nahman specifically saying it was diphtheria.
https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.62b.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en">https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.6...
https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.62b.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en">https://www.sefaria.org.il/Yevamot.6...
5. I& #39;m not the type of rabbi who attributes contemporary tragedies to Divine Punishment for specific sins. I don& #39;t read God& #39;s mind.
6. At the same time, observing mourning customs while there& #39;s an actual plague going around should be an even stronger reminder to treat each other with respect, *especially* when we disagree.
