Q:
Why do we mourn Rabbi Akiva’s passing if he died at the age of 120 years and he even died al kiddush Hashem which is a very great way to leave this world?
A:
There’s no question about it that Rabi Akiva’s life was utilized properly. Even his death was utilized. He died for kiddush Hashem, a hero, and Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave him an extra reward beyond all that he gained in his life.
We are, however, very, very sad at the dishonor that the goyim did to him. If a goy can give a slap to a Jew, he’s chayav misah. The Gemara says that in Sanhedrin. Don’t do it on your own by the way—rely on Hakadosh Baruch Hu. But the din is that a goy who strikes a Jew, he’s chayav misah.
I had a rebbi, Rav Avraham, zichrono levrachah. I gained a great deal from my rebbi in Slabodka. He’s one of my rebbis. He was hiding in a bunker from the Germans and then they discovered him. He had one leg that was a very sick leg, very weak. And the German ordered him out of the bunker, the German took his gun butt and struck him on the shin of his sick leg. To this day I think of that German. He’s in Gehinom now and I pray he should burn more brightly in Gehinom. Hakadosh Baruch Hu should give him a bigger fire in Gehinom. I’m sure my tefilah helps.
And they’ll burn in Gehinom all those who caused distress to Rabi Akiva. But still we know that Rabi Akiva was the recipient of the greatest benefit. Why should he die of a sickness, a useless death? He died al kiddush Hashem. While they were stripping the flesh of his body, he was saying krias shema; veahavta es Hashem Elokecha. “I love You, Hashem,” he said. His talmidim said Rabeinu “עד כאן – even now you can love Hashem?” He said, “Yes. All my life I was rehearsing for this moment.”
But we are sad that it happened to him. Of course, for him it was the very best stroke of good fortune but we’re angry at the goyim. And the Gemara says Hakadosh Baruch Hu is never going to forgive the nations of the world. For the death of Rabi Akiva v’chaveirav, He’ll never forgive them. And therefore the nations are sentenced to Gehinom. Only in rare exceptions when they become geirim, chassidei umos haolam but it’s very hard to be chassidei umos haolam. The Rambam says to be a chassid umos haolam he has to believe in Hashem Elokei Yisrael. If he believes in Hashem Elokim, it’s not enough. So we see how difficult it is. That’s why Gehinom is going to be very, very big, the Gemara says. Gehinom is much greater than Gan Eden because it will have to take in all the nations of the earth.
November 1991
