This Sunday is a very joyous day, celebrated by Jews throughout the world with outings, bonfires and parades, known as Lag B'Omer, which means 33rd day of the Omer.
Two historic events happened on this day. Firstly, Lag B'Omer was the day the students of Rabbi Akiva ceased dying of a plague which had been decimating them. Then, many years later on this very same day, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, Rabbi Akiva's greatest student, passed away.
The Rebbe noted that Our Sages state that the cause of the plague was lack of respect one student showed for the other. These students were not average individuals. They were amongst the greatest scholars who were in a league of their own after meriting to become accepted as students of the greatest sage of that time, Rabbi Akiva. Thus, not only had they reached a great level of Torah knowledge, they were also meant to be extraordinary examples of how a Jew should interact with another. This is further emphasised by the fact that one of Rabbi Akiva's most well-known teachings was "Love your neighbour as yourself!"
In this area of interpersonal interaction, even the minutest flaw would be considered all the more glaring. So how is this lack of respect for one another to be understood?
The explanation is that each student was so confident in their own approach to Torah, mitzvot and G-dly service, that out of their intense love for each other, they tried to impose their approach on their colleague. Yet by doing so, they showed disrespect and disregard for their colleagues' approach and opinion. At their great level, this intolerance was considered a lack of respect from one to another, in spite of it coming from a place of great love and devotion to each other. Unfortunately, the punishment they received was also very harsh and severe as a result of their great stature.
The lesson to be learned from this is how important it is to respect another regardless of whether we agree with the other's approach or opinion. Each one may have a different view and opinion, yet we must learn to respectfully disagree. We may certainly agree to disagree, but under no circumstances should we ever agree to disrespect one another!
