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Meron, in the Galil, was the settlement that Rabbi Shimon lived in 2,000 years ago. Soon after the State of Israel was founded, my father went there on Lag B’Omer and was overwhelmed and inspired by the atmosphere. And when I first went there in the late 1950s, I was too. It was a wonderful experience, of popular mystical joy, celebration, and unity. All groups and sects within traditional Judaism joined together and danced around huge bonfires of and in religious ecstasy. Today it has become the Bonfires of Vanities.
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.