On Lag BaOmer the House of Israel have always held celebrations in honor the lofty Mishna sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the holy Zohar. Tens of thousands go to his gravesite in Meron to dance and rejoice, and the whole nation lights bonfires and is joyful on this wonderful day. Countless Jews recite the Zohar and study Kabbalah, each on his own level.
How did he merit that his yahrzeit became the heritage of the Jewish People, a day on which all rejoice and light bonfires in his honor, as a sort of yahrzeit candle for him? How did he merit to have the Zohar revealed through him?
Our sages recount (Shabbat 33b) that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai sacrificed himself for the People, Land and independence of Israel.
Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai sat together discussing the activities of the Romans, who had constructed bridges, marketplaces and bathhouses in Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Yehuda praised them, Rabbi Yossi remained silent and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai expressed his sharp opposition, remarking that everything the Romans did, they did for their own interests and not for the glory of Israel. This so raised the ire of the Romans against him that he was forced to hide in a cave with his son for twelve years.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai could not bear to see Israel dominated by a foreign power. The Romans forced themselves on the Jewish People, even if economically it looked as though they were benefiting them.
Whoever is willing to sacrifice himself, body and soul, for the glory of Israel, shall merit to reveal the inner secrets of the Torah to the Jewish People. Israel, down through the generations until the end of time, shall reward him in return by holding an enormous celebration on his yahrzeit.
In every generation, Jews rise up bearing the torch of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, sacrificing themselves for Jewish independence. Jews unwilling to flatter the nations and to subjugate themselves to their will bring the whole generation merit through their self-sacrifice.
In recent times as well, we have seen the pioneers who fought the British Empire for Israel's rebirth before the State's establishment. Today, the soldiers of the IDF are fighting our enemies who seek to banish us from our land. These soldiers enable us to stand strong and erect for all to see. Those pioneers and soldiers are continuing in the path and the spirit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
All the more so in our own day. The settlers of Judea and Samaria are holding on to the Land of our life's blood by their fingernails. They are doing this even though the American superpower is pressuring us, and even though the spirit and faith of some of our political leadership have weakened.
Those settlers are the pioneers of our generation. They bring the Jewish People merit, and carry on in the spirit and path of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. May this merit defend us and the whole House of Israel. And through this, may we merit a new light over Zion.
How did he merit that his yahrzeit became the heritage of the Jewish People, a day on which all rejoice and light bonfires in his honor, as a sort of yahrzeit candle for him? How did he merit to have the Zohar revealed through him?
Our sages recount (Shabbat 33b) that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai sacrificed himself for the People, Land and independence of Israel.
Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai sat together discussing the activities of the Romans, who had constructed bridges, marketplaces and bathhouses in Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Yehuda praised them, Rabbi Yossi remained silent and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai expressed his sharp opposition, remarking that everything the Romans did, they did for their own interests and not for the glory of Israel. This so raised the ire of the Romans against him that he was forced to hide in a cave with his son for twelve years.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai could not bear to see Israel dominated by a foreign power. The Romans forced themselves on the Jewish People, even if economically it looked as though they were benefiting them.
Whoever is willing to sacrifice himself, body and soul, for the glory of Israel, shall merit to reveal the inner secrets of the Torah to the Jewish People. Israel, down through the generations until the end of time, shall reward him in return by holding an enormous celebration on his yahrzeit.
In every generation, Jews rise up bearing the torch of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, sacrificing themselves for Jewish independence. Jews unwilling to flatter the nations and to subjugate themselves to their will bring the whole generation merit through their self-sacrifice.
In recent times as well, we have seen the pioneers who fought the British Empire for Israel's rebirth before the State's establishment. Today, the soldiers of the IDF are fighting our enemies who seek to banish us from our land. These soldiers enable us to stand strong and erect for all to see. Those pioneers and soldiers are continuing in the path and the spirit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
All the more so in our own day. The settlers of Judea and Samaria are holding on to the Land of our life's blood by their fingernails. They are doing this even though the American superpower is pressuring us, and even though the spirit and faith of some of our political leadership have weakened.
Those settlers are the pioneers of our generation. They bring the Jewish People merit, and carry on in the spirit and path of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. May this merit defend us and the whole House of Israel. And through this, may we merit a new light over Zion.