During the time of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans, a plague killed 24,000 students of our great sage, Rabbi Akiva, in this seven week period between Passover and Shavuot. Over the centuries, the Jewish People experienced many more tragedies (massacres, pogroms, …) during this seven week period. To commemorate these tragedies, we observe a period of semi-mourning during at least the first 32 days of the counting of the Omer. Weddings and other festivities are not held, music is not heard, and hair is not cut. The Israeli government also decided that today would be an appropriate time to honor our fallen soldiers.
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