hey i was going to keep my two cents to myself but how about this: since the bais hamikdash was destroyed we’re really all in aveilus. we shouldn’t be listening to live music stam. the rabbis were meikil because our generations would be too depressed without music. (some say not to listen to live, and not in yerushalayim, but everyone says recorded is fine, right?)
so here’s my question: why is the aveilus for rabbi akiva’s students greater the the aveilus for the bais hamikdash? if they were meikil for that, then it should apply for all year long. the three weeks i understand more because it’s more intense time, but why here?