yeshmalasot.org - Lag B'Omer: The 33rd Day, In Praise of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

Lag B'Omer: The 33rd Day, In Praise of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

נכתב ע"י R. Nati
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, zt"l alone was given permission to reveal the great mysteries contained in the hidden teachings abd to distribute free gifts (Zohar III:124b). Prior to the great Tanna Rabbi Akiva's passing, this great teacher of the jewish people summoned his two beloved disciples, Rabbi Shimon (bar Yochai) and Rabbi Meir (baal HaNess). They asked Rabbi Akiva which of them would be replacing him. Rabbi Akiva said, "Rabbi Meir shall take over the position as head of the Yeshiva." Then turning to Rabbi Shimon he said, "It is sufficient that your Creator and I know the level your greatness" (Talmud Yerushalmi, Sanhedrin 2). Rabbi Shimon said, "I have the power to correct the entire world; I can exempt the whole world from judgment." (Talmud Sukkah 45b). Rabbi Shimon was leaving the cave where he and his son Rabbi Elazar had been in hiding from the Romans for thirteen years. They were talking about the righteousness which exists in the world when Rabbi Shimon said "It's enough that you and I are in the world." Another time he said, "I myself have sufficient merit for the entire world." (Talmud Shabbat 33b; Sukkah 45b) Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was the foundation of the world, the true Tzaddik. These teachings only reveal a small degree of Rabbi Shimon's greatness and give only a partial glimpse of the true benefit he brought into the world. This being the case, we celebrate the passing of the True Tzaddik, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. This in itself is a great wonder, an obvious contradiction. How can we celebrate and enjoy Lag B'Omer, when it recalls the day when such great good and benefit was taken from the world? What kind of celebration is this? On the contrary, we should rend our garments, as for the destruction of the Temple; as our sages taught, "The passing of a Tzaddik is more severe than the Temple's destruction!" To answer this, Reb Noson of Breslov quotes the verse, "the Tzaddik is lost; yet nobody bothers to note what has happened. People of kindness are taken away; yet no one understands. It because of the evil that approaches, the Tzaddik is lost (Isaiah 57:1). Our Sages teach that the very great tzaddikim pass away prior to the onset of terrible evil in the world. For them, this is a blessing; so that they should not have to witness the great suffering which Heaven has decreed, so that their eyes should not have to see all the multitude of troubles that is about to befall the jewish people (Talmud Sandhedrin 113b). Reb Noson then goes on to explain that the powers of the "Tzaddikim are greater after their passing than when they were alive" (Talmud Berahot 18a). If we examine the Tzaddik's main purpose in life, we see that all his efforts are devoted to rectifying the Jews and bringing about goodness, both physical as well as spiritual. Through the Tzaddik comes an abundance of wealth and livelihood, and abundance of Torah and repentance.. However, as long as the Tzaddik's soul is housed in a body, he is restricted. This because the body, by definition, is a physical limitation. The Tzaddik is therefore prevented from rising to the greatest heights, and even the abundance which he does bring is governed by this restriction. His influence can only go so far, until such a time that his soul is divested of its bodily enclosure. This is why there is cause for celebration on Lag B'Omer. True, it is the day that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai passed away from this world. But, Rabbi Shimon is in Shamayim; Rabbi Shimon is spiritual. If, during his lifetime he had sufficient merit to keep the world in existence, how much more so now that he is no longer restricted by the physical? His powers can presently reach such incomprehensible heights and levels that the abundance and benefit he can now bring to the world far surpasses whatever had been possible when he was alive. This is the explanation of the verse, "The Tzaddik is lost...because of the evil that approaches..." The Tzaddik's entire being is devoted to destroying and combating evil. However, his ability to do this is limited by his physical body. Therefore, Hashem removes this Tzaddik from the world prior to the evil's coming. This is so that the Tzaddik's body will no longer restrict his efforts to help the Jews. In heaven, he is free to mitigate the harsh decree. There is simply no din on lag B'omer so you can come to the tzion of the tzaddik and ask what you will and receive a free unmerited gift. Very simply you can receive great and awesome yeshuot salvations for children and health and livelyhood so do not get distracted by all the people and pushing and noise just come and close your eyes to all this world and ask the tzaddik to interceed for you. I personally guarantee you will see miricles in your life. This is the true reason for the great celebration on Lag B'Omer. On the 33rd Day of the Omer many, many years ago, Rabbi Shimno bar Yochai's powers to bring help and salvation to all of Am Israel increased manifold. (Likutey Halahkot, Hekhsher Keilim 4) Nu come on sing: Bar Yochai lai lai la la lai... On the 33rd day of the Omer counting we celebrate the holiday called Lag B'Omer. The Talmud relates that Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 students, all of whom were very great rabbi's. Rabbi Akiva himself was one of the greatest rabbis in the Talmud. Yet, during this period of just 33 days, all these 24,000 students died because they didn't act respectfully to one another. When they died, the world was left desolate until Rabbi Akiva came and taught Torah to five new students: Rabbi Meir (baal Haness), Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Rabbi Yossi, Rabbi Nechemya and Rabbi Yehudah. These great Tzaddikim were later responsible for restoring the entire Torah. They are the rabbis of the Mishnah (Yevamot 63a). The students of Rabbi Akiva did not have this fellowship and unity, and they died during this Reb Noson explains that during the Days of the Omer, we work to purify ourselves in order to receive the Torah. The Torah was originally received because the Jews came to Har Sinai as one, achdut, with one purpose, and one heart (Rashi, Exodus 18:1). The students of Rabbi AkivaSefirah period. They were followed by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his disciples, a very closely knit group. the great love and unity they displayed between Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his students, for which we find references throughout the Zohar, brought rectification to the 24,000. The greatness of Lag B'Omer is that it represents the conclusion of the period of mourning. Through the spiritual strength and power of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and through the unity and peace between all Jews, it is possible to rectify even the greatness losses and tragedies that befall the jewish people (Likutey Halakhot, Rosh Chodesh 6). Original Torah insights provide great spiritual light for the world. But this light, which emanates from the or ein sof (the Infinite One), can only be drawn down and brought into this world through contraction and limitation. Otherwise, it is far too overwhelming for man to appreciate. He just doesn't have the spiritual "strength". One way to get that "strength" is by joining together with other Jews. This in itself is a form of self-contraction for the sake of the larger group. through this we can understand why the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died. Each of these students was very outstanding in his own right, and received many Torah insights from his most illustrious teacher. These Torah insights brought them great spiritual light, but they were unable to maintain it. Why? Because there was no love and harmony between them. They lacked the bonds which would have given them the "strength" to absorb the Torah's great light and have it be a blessing. As a result, they died. And their deaths took place precisely during the Sefirah period, when we should be trying to rectify ourselves so as to receive the Torah. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his cheva of talmidim were very different than Rabbi Akiva's students. Their relationship was a rectification. And through the "strength" which their bonds of love created, Rabbi Shimon was able to bring down a great light. This was the revelation of the Zohar HaKodesh, the basic source of the Kabbalah as it is known to us today. Not only were his students able to bring receive the brilliant light of their teachers Torah insights without it harming them, but Rabbi Shimon's revelation of Hashem's Greatness were such incredible rectifications that, even today, no matter where a person has fallen spiritually, he can always come back to Hashem. This is why Eliyahu Ha navi told Rabbi Shimon that his teachings 'The Zohar Hakodesh' will lead the Jews out of exile (Likutey Halahkot, Minchah 7). It is precisely during this time and at Chatzot that we can anticipate redemption. May it be this year at this time that we all join together in achdut to end this galut. And remember this "Em atah lo shoel atah lo kabel", Simply if you dont ask you dont receive, so at 1:30 am this monday night walk outside and look up and simply ask our Father in Heaven to have mercy on us and bring the righteous redeemer this very day!!!! Amein Gut vak Reb Nati
עדכון אחרון ( ��, 10 �� 2009 )

< קודם		הבא >

[ חזרה ]