Lag BaOmer, the thirty third day of the counting of the Omer ,falls out this year on Motzei Shabbat (Saturday night) and Sunday.

One of the reasons why Lag BaOmer is celebrated is because it marks the day that the plague which killed many of Rabbi Akiva’s students ended.

Why did 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva die during this period? According to Tractate Yevamot 62b, the students did not show sufficient honor to each other.

After the tragedy, Rabbi Akiva was left with only five students. Rabbi Akiva made sure to tell those five students not to make the same mistakes that their friends made and he continued to teach the concept of “Love your fellow as yourself.”

How did Rabbi Akiva become such a great man?

According to Tractate Ketubot 62b, Rabbi Akiva was originally a shepherd for Ben Kalba Savua, a very wealthy man. Rachel, Ben Kalba Savua’s daughter saw that he was modest and of fine character (even though at that point he was an ignorant shepherd). She asked him if he would go study Torah in the Yeshiva. He said yes, they got married secretly and he went away to study in the Yeshiva for twelve years. When Rachel’s father heard who she had married he made a vow prohibiting her to benefit from his possessions. After twelve years at the Yeshiva, Rabbi Akiva returned with 12,000 students. When he was almost home, Rabbi Akiva heard an elderly man ask Rachel how much longer she will live a life of widowhood. Rachel answered that if it was up to her, he would go back to the Yeshiva for another twelve years. After studying at the Yeshiva for twelve more years, Rabbi Akiva returned with 24,000 students. When Rachel heard that he had returned she went out to greet him. The first person who saw her was extremely disrespectful and told her to borrow some suitable clothing. When she reached Rabbi Akiva, his attendants tried to push her away. When Rabbi Akiva saw this he said: “Leave her alone! The portion of Torah that is mine and the portion of Torah that is yours belong to her.” Rachel’s father heard that a great scholar came to town. He didn’t know that it was Rabbi Akiva. He finally decided to annul his vow. Rabbi Akiva admitted that he in fact was Rachel’s husband and Ben Kalba Savua gave them half of his possessions.

We see from here that Rabbi Akiva became a great scholar because of his wife Rachel’s encouragement and not only did he not forget that fact, he was proud to acknowledge it.

It is clear from the story of Rabbi Akiva and Rachel that behind every great man is a great woman!

As we celebrate Lag BaOmer let’s remember to follow Rabbi Akiva’s teaching: “Love your fellow as yourself.”