[Avodah] ALL 24000 died

[Micha Berger]

On Sat, May 09, 2026 at 08:32:21PM +0000, Ben Bradley via Avodah wrote:
> Next, we can be sure that R Akiva died around the end or slightly
> after the end of the Bar kochba revolt based of Chazal's reporting of
> the circumstances around his death.

Hadrian speant a lot of time suppressing us after the fall of
Beitar. The plowing of the Har haBayis didn't happen at the same time
as BK's Temple building project.

So, maybe it was later. I don't see this argument compelling.

> So, with all respect to R Henkin...

There are earlier sources:

R Sherira Gaon in the She'iltos
<http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14593&pgnum=89> says "vehavei
shamda al talmidei RA", which has been argued is about shemad,
and thus Roman oppression. I know this is debated, but I don't recall
the other interpretation.

In the new Moznayim edition of Midrash Rabba, the Eitz Yoseif (on
Bereishis 61) says they died between Pesach and Shavuos in Milchemes
Beitar. That's early 19th cent, but most (not all) of EY is a
liqut.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 Today is the 38th day, which is
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   5 weeks and 3 days in/toward the omer.
Author: Widen Your Tent      Tifferes sheb'Yesod: How does reliability
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF         promote harmony in life and relationships?