SHABBOS
TABLE-TALK
Parshas; Acharei Mos-Kedoshim. 5770.

I hope the ideas contained below, will provide you with some topics for discussion, at your Shabbos table.

At this time of year we do not have any weddings and we observe other laws of mourning, because the pupils of Rabbi Akiva died en masse between Pesach and Shovous. Unfortunately, in our history, there have been many mass deaths, why do we particularly keep so many laws of mourning, for this one.
A second question is, we are told, the reason for their deaths was, they did not treat one another with sufficient respect. This hardly seems to justify the death penalty?
The solution is, Rabbi Akiva`s pupils were meant to be the link in the chain of tradition of Judaism, learning the teachings from the previous generation, represented by Rabbi Akiva, and passing them on, to the next generation. However Judaism is not an academic study external to the person. It has to be experienced. For example, Shabbos has be experienced, so does doing kindness to others, and every other teaching of Judaism. If you have not experienced it yourself, you cannot pass it on to the next generation.
Rabbi Akiva`s pupils could not practice and experience Judaism properly, because they lacked some of the essential qualities of character needed for keeping Judaism. This was demonstrated by their lack of respect for one another. (See Pikei Ovos Chap. Six, a for a list of forty-eight qualities, essential for acquiring the Torah). If they could not experience it themselves, they could not possibly pass it on to the next generation. This meant the crucial link was in danger of being broken, which would destroy the whole chain. That is why we particularly mourn that event.

SOURCES; Sefer Noam Siach

A second topic, based on the Sedra, has a strong connection to the first topic.

We are commanded in the Sedra to honour a “Zokein”-an elder. The Gemara says Zokein is an acronym for “a person who acquires wisdom (of Torah)”.
“Zayin”= “Zeh” meaning “this is a person”
“Kuf” and “Nun” = “Konoh” meaning “who acquired”.
There is no letter referring to wisdom. The reason is, the only thing you can really acquire, in the sense that it becomes part of you and nobody can take it away, is wisdom. All other acquisitions are external to you, and can be taken away from you. So once the word hints, at something you really acquire, you don`t need another letter to tell you it refers to wisdom
In this sense, the pupils of Rabbi Akiva had not “acquired” wisdom, and therefore could not pass it on.

SOURCES; Sefer Birchas Peretz

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QUESTION FOR THE WEEK;

On Yom Kippur, we keep repeating the Verse from this week`s Sedrah “For on this day He will atone for you to purify you”. Chap 16 verse 30. what is the real difference between atone and Purify?

ANSWER;
When a person sins he deserves a punishment, but besides that it damages his soul. He will atone means, He will remove the punishment. To purify, means the damage to the soul will be repaired. Yom Kippur combined with repentance achieves both.

SOURCES; Sefer Zichron Meir.