This week we celebrate Lag Ba'Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer. What so special about this 33rd day? According to tradition, during this period 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva. Even though Rabbi Akiva's operating principle was "Love thy neighbor as yourself", his own students did not respect one another, and they died for it. And it was on the 33rd day that they stopped dying. So we mourn for the first 33 days and on the 33rd day we celebrate.

Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, Director of NJOP, shares one additional thought. Having 24,000 students, it wasn't possible for Rabbi Akiva to have a personal relationship with each one. That is also a tragedy. The rabbi doesn't really know each student. Engagement only takes place on a one to one basis. It's important to walk away from this lesson knowing that when we have a relationship with someone it should be a personal relationship. It should be heart to heart.

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