RABBI Wagensberg: PARSHAS PINCHAS: "Life Begins at 50" | The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com | Rabbi Aba Wagensberg | 22 Tammuz 5781 – July 2, 2021 jewishpress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jewishpress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The pure and holy nature of the victims, one after another, is now known to Jews all over the world
Shavuos is fast upon us, and I am once again reviewing Rav Aaron Lopiansky’s marvelous adaptation of Rav Yosef Ze’ev Lipowitz’s commentary Nachlas Yosef on Megillas Rus, entitled Seed of Redemption. I expect this review to be an annual event.
Rav Lipowitz’s principal theme is chesed, as set forth in the Midrash (Rus Rabbah 2:14): Rabi Zeira said, “This Megillah has no laws of ‘clean and unclean and no laws of prohibited and permitted.’ So why was it written? To teach me how much reward lies in store for people who perform deeds of kindness.”
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.