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Do you know how to love? 

The days between Passover and Shavuot would be best described as bittersweet. On the one hand we are excited, counting the days, anxiously awaiting the receiving of the Torah on Shavuot, on the other hand, they are very solemn days as well.

These are the days which we mourn the tragic death of Rabbi Akiva's twenty four thousand students. We are taught that the reason for this travesty was the lack of respect the students gave one another. But how can this be, these were no ordinary Torah scholars, these were the students of Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest sages that ever lived? More importantly, he was the one who preached so strongly about loving one's fellow.

How is it possible that his students whom were so attached to him were unable to take this to heart? It was however, not that they didn't internalize this message properly, but on the contrary, it was because they loved each other so much like one flesh that it bothered them that the other didn't agree and interpret that which they were studying in the same way as he.

Of course, this too was no good. Love on your own terms is not love at all.

We often find this dynamic in our relationships, be it with our spouses (I still maintain the word should be spice!), children, parents, co-workers etc. We love them so much that we want them to do things just the way we want it. It bothers us that they don't see it the way we do. If they would just get it. If they would open their eyes and see the light!

But to love is to tolerate, to understand, to respect. It doesn't mean to become so unified that you only have one mind, one thought, one consistent emotion and intellect. It's that understanding that you are you and I am me but together we are us. Our conbined ideas, emotions and feelings what makes our relationships special, exciting and worth having.

During these mournful days, we take the time to celebrate, Lag B'Omer. To break out to the great outdoors, representative of leaving our own personal confines and being open to others and socialize and enjoy each other. In this way rectifying the wrong that Rabbi Akiva's students misunderstood.

Don't miss our community BBQ this Sunday, April 28, 3-6 pm at our home. There will be a water slide, bows and arrows, volleyball, delicious food and awesome Live Jewish Gypsy music by Gyorgy Lakatos!

And of course.... wonderful company!

A very special thank you to our dedicated volunteers: Michael and Shelly Paolercio, Stan and Lois Miller, Pam Fanara, Linda Weiss (FL), Pattie and Jared Light and Mickey and Cookie Gottlieb.