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Jewish Ledger
KOLOT – ‘Good Shabbos’
By Howard Meyerowitz
“Good Shabbos. Good Shabbos. What does this really mean?” David thought to himself on his way home Friday evening from shul. “Each Friday on my way to shul and returning home I’ll say this many times to the people I meet, and then Saturday morning the same thing on my way to and at shul, but I’ve never really given it much thought.” Still thinking about the meaning of ‘Good Shabbos’ David opened the front door to his second-floor two-bedroom apartment where he and his wife, Chani, raised their three daughters, and the delicious aromas of Shabbos cooking caressed his nostrils.
Photo Credit: Yossi Zeliger / Flash 90
One of the major topics in this week’s parsha, Parshas Emor, is the discussion about the various Jewish holidays (Parshas Emor, 23:1-44). As such, we will take the liberty of talking about a holiday of sorts which falls out this year (5781) on Thursday night â Friday, Erev Parshas Emor, which celebrates the Rashbâi (Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai. This day is known as Lag Bâomer. It is also called âHillula dâRashbâi (the celebration of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai) on account of Rebbi Shimonâs accomplishments and contributions to the Jewish people.
The famous story about the Rashbâi (Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai) is found in Meseches Shabbos (chap. 2, âBameh Madlikinâ, pg. 33b). The Talmudic page number (33) is not arbitrary as it alludes to the 33rd day of the Omer on which we celebrate the life and contributions of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai.