Για να το διαβάσετε στα Ελληνικά, κάντε κλικ εδώ
During the period of Sefirat Haomer, we observe several practices of mourning, such as not getting a haircut, not getting married, refrain from several leisure activities etc.
Why? Because about 2000 years ago during this time of the year, there was a great epidemic in Israel. The 24,000 students of the famous Sage Rabbi Akiva died, and there was almost no Torah scholar left.
After this tragic event, Rabbi Akiva succeeded in finding 5 students and these were the ones who transmitted the knowledge of the Torah to the next generation.
The epidemic lasted from Pesach to the 33rd day of the Omer, where it stopped. But those who had already fallen ill continued to die until Shavuot. This is why on the 33rd day of the Omer, we do not mourn but on the contrary, we celebrate, because the epidemic stopped. But we continue the next day to observe the mourning practices until Shavuot
Shabbat Shalom,
Arie from the Yeshiva