Sefirat Ha'omer: Mourning

Why is it not permissible to get married between Pesach and Shavuot? ( with the exception of lag be Omer)

Shalom!

Thank you for your question!

As you correctly note, there are restriction on getting married during the days of the Omer (as well as shaving, taking haircuts, and listening to music). This is because these are days of sadness due to the tragic death of Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students.

Let’s take a look at some of the sources.

“Rabbi Akiva had 12,000 pairs of students and they all died during the same period, because they did not treat each other with respect…‘They all died between Pesach and Atzeret (Shavuot)’… They all died an evil death. And then the world was desolate [from Torah] until Rabbi Akiva came to our Rabbis in the South and taught them [thereby reviving Torah in the world]. The five rabbis were Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yossi, Rabbi Shimon, and Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua.

We are told that the “evil death” they suffered was “ascara,” a type of croup or whooping cough.

The Midrash, further commenting on the death of the 24,000 students says that Rabbi Akiva said, “My sons, the first students died because they resented one another. Do not do as they did.”

As mentioned, to remember this sad piece of our history, a number of mourning practices are observed. There are different customs as to when the mourning customs are observed. The most common custom is to observe them from Pesach to Lag Ba’omer, although there are those who observe them for the entire Omer period. The Omer period should also be used to reflect on and improve our interpersonal relationships.

Yevamot (62b)

Bereishit Rabba 61:3