Shavuah Tov!!! Happy Lag BaOmer
Today we celebrate the Yahrtzeit (death anniversary) of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, the Rashbi, author of the Zohar who died almost 2000 years ago.
Also this is the day that many years before the death of the Rashbi, the almost 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva stopped dying from a plague that was sent to them because they didn’t treat each other with respect.
This is the day that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai revealed the hidden kabbalistic teachings of the Torah to the world and on his death bed asked to celebrate this day with music and bonfires, with joy and not sadness for his Neshama had been able to complete its mission in this world and this is a reason to be happy and not sad. Also today is an auspicious day to find the hidden good in everyone and to treat others with respect and honor.
It is traditional to light bonfires to commemorate the immense light that he Rashbi introduced into the world via his mystical teachings.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai was one of the five students of Rabbi Akiva after his other students died. The Rashbi lived in a cave for 13 years with his son, hiding from the Roman Emperor who was looking to kill him. It was there where we was given all the hidden secrets of the Torah and G-d made a miracle for them feeding the carobs and making a stream of water.
During his lifetime no rainbow appeared since the flood when H”S made it as a promise to Noah that He would never again destroy the world, nevertheless it is a reminder that He is not happy with our ways.
May the immense light that was drawn down from heaven to this world by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai be a continuous source of illumination and internal fire that burns inside of us to help us live as passionate, loving people in a world that wants to take us in the opposite direction.
Chag Sameach!!
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