The Gemorah in Mesechta Yevamos relates that Rabi Akiva had twelve thousand pairs of talmidim who perished during a specific time period because of a lack of respect accorded one to another. The world was desolate and laid waste until Rabi Akiva arrived in the South and taught the Rabbis there. This reinstated Torah for generations to come. Rashi explains that the world was desolate because the Torah was forgotten.
It is astounding to imagine that at this point Torah was entirely forgotten! Although, Rabi Akiva had twenty-four thousand talmidim, certainly other yeshivos and lomdei Torah existed in other places. Also, there must have been alumni who previously studied in Rabi Akiva’s yeshiva and moved on elsewhere. Furthermore, the same Gemorah tells us that Rabi Akiva went to the “Raboseinu shebidarom”. Obviously, there still existed Torah and talmidei chachomim. So how can the Gemorah depict the situation as so dire?
The Gemorah in Mesechta Avodah Zara says that the existence of this world is in total six-thousand years. The first third is referred to as “the two thousand years of waste”. With the advent of Avrohom Avinu commenced the second third, referred to as “the two thousand years of Torah”. During this period the world consisted of Adom, Noach, Mesushelach, Chanoch and Shem. How is it possible to refer to the first two thousand years as being empty?
To better understand this, let us take a look at a possuk in Koheles. Shlomo Hamelech says in Koheles, “Havel havolim omar Koheles, havel havolim hakol havel”. Shlomo Hamelech is telling us that all worldly pleasures and excesses are useless and futile. The most delectable food and the most enjoyable delights are fleeting sensations of pleasure that dissipate and disappear within moments of its’ intake.
The Targum in Koheles interprets this possuk with a deeper understanding. Shlomo Hamelech, upon seeing in a prophetic vision that his kingdom would be split and that Yerusholayim and the Bais Hamikdosh would be destroyed, proclaimed that all is useless. All the work and toil that he and his father, Dovid invested was for naught. This should raise eyebrows! The Bais Hamikdosh was for naught?! If anything, our sins caused its destruction and we must work to return to deserving its’ presence once again. But the Bais Hamikdosh itself was the center of kedushah of the entire world! How can it be cast away as useless- “hevel”?!
The Targum is relaying an awesome concept. Even something as great as the Bais Hamikdosh, if it does not transform into something with permanence, it is labeled as ‘hevel’ from the onset. Only something that bears fruit and has continuity for eternity has value.
As great as Shem and Noach etc. were, their legacy was fleeting and did not perpetuate, thus they did not rate as having any viability. Avrohom Avinu was the first to create an eternal legacy, the founding of an everlasting nation.
Rabi Akiva was the root and base of Torah sheba’al peh. Any Torah sheba’al peh that has been transmitted up until today, stems from Rabi Akiva and his talmidim. Without the legacy and continuity of Rabi Akiva’s portfolio, the world of Torah sheba’al peh would be missing and there would exist a tremendous void and vacuum.
Even while Rabi Akiva was still alive, a lack of talmidim to transmit his Torah constituted “tohu”- waste and emptiness. Thus, even while other lomdei Torah still flourished at the time of the passing of Rabi Akiva’s twenty-four thousand students, they were not the bearers of his legacy. Therefore, the world remained bare and empty until Rabi Akiva reestablished his Yeshiva to continue his legacy for posterity.
