"The main thing is to become a student of Rashbi, which is to know that the main thing is emunah." ~ Rav Itche Meir Morgenstern
Growing up, we were all Lag Baomer students. A half day off of school with a special class trip to the park with all your friends? Sign me up! There was a tangible sense of optimism in the air on those Lag Baomer days. As we matured, so did our priorities, our interests and our celebration of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai. Now, we dance by the fire, listen to inspirational music and attend electric farbrengens. These experiences may look different but have the same result - becoming a student of Reb Shimon means lighting the fire inside your soul.
Lag Baomer changes us. We walk out of a farbrengen at 12am feeling alive and excited for what comes next - This feeling doesn't have to go away. In the sefer Beis Ahron, Reb Ahron of Karlin says that "Just as Hashem is for everyone, לכל, so too Rashbi is for everyone." By putting our faith in ourselves, we put our faith in God, and receive the faith that God has in us.
The Zohar (Idra 296) records that when Rashbi was buried in Meron a bas kol (Heavenly voice) announced "In your merit, many harsh decrees are silenced on this day." Notice the wording: “silenced.” Let the harsh decrees that buzz in our heads, the neuroses and insecurities, let them be silenced. As Zusha said in one of their recent viral TikToks, "I may never know what you're going through, but I want you to know that I'm here for you." Can we be here with ourselves?
Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai zechuso yagein aleinu...
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Learn more:
- Yonatees products - Meron Sticker
- Songs: JOEY NEWCOMB - Tantz With Rashbi, Bar Yochai
- Rav Elimelech Biderman's Lag Baomer Torahs 2023
