Today’s learning is dedicated to the refuah sheleima of Simcha Nosson ben Zissel.

Come and see the works of G-d: an amazing revelation concerning the mystery of the greatness of the godly sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai.

Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai gave assurances that through him the Torah would not be forgotten from the Jewish people. As our Sages teach (Shabbat 138b): When our Rabbis entered the yeshivah in Yavneh, they said, “The Torah will one day be forgotten by the Jews.” But Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai said that it would not be forgotten, as is written (Deuteronomy 31:21), “It will not be forgotten from the mouth of his offspring.” And, as is explained in the Zohar (III, 124b): Because of this work, the Book of the Zohar, [the Jews] will be redeemed from exile.

So now come, see and understand the hidden wonders of our holy Torah. This is why Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai based himself on this verse: “It will not be forgotten from the mouth of his offspring.” For, in truth, this mystery is hinted at and concealed in this very verse. Through the offspring of Yochai, this being Rashby [Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai], the Torah will not be forgotten by the Jews. This is because the final letters of the words in this verse “kI loA tishakhaCh mipiY zar’O” are the same letters as YOChAI…

And know! The mystery of Rabbi Shimon himself is alluded to in another verse. Know that the holy sage Rabbi Shimon corresponds to (Daniel 4:10): “Ir V’kaddish Min Shemaya Nachit (An angel, a holy one, descended from heaven)” – the first letters of which are ShIMON.   —   Lekutey Moharan I, Prologue

In lesson 33 of Lekutey Moharan, Rebbe Nachman explains that the “inner light” of the Torah refers to Hashem’s presence. Meaning, this light is the Godliness which is found inside the Torah and its middos; the character traits taught by Torah and the specific details of each mitzvah. In the inner light of the Torah, Hashem’s presence can be felt and discovered.

The tzaddikim make it possible for each person to connect to the incredible, inner light of the Torah. This is their task and their mission. The tzaddikim help us escape the cycles of sin, and feelings of lowliness and hopelessness.  

Today is Lag Ba’Omer, the thirty-third day of counting the omer. It is considered one of the most special days on the Jewish calendar. Lag Ba’Omer marks the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the author of the Holy Zohar. This is a day of great celebration, marked with bonfires, music, and dancing.

As a student of Rabbi Akiva, Rebbe Shimon was one of the great sages of the period of the Mishna. The Romans had put a price on his head, and he was forced to hide in a cave for thirteen years, together with his son Rabbi Elazar. They emerged from the cave as the greatest teachers of their time.

But why do we celebrate on the day of Rebbe Shimon’s passing? Would it not be more appropriate to mourn the loss of such a great Tzadik? 

There are certain tzaddikim who are so great that any person can connect to them. They are attached to every soul. They understand each person’s nature and can see what their special purpose is in the world. They are compared the root of the tree, while we are the branches.

One of these exalted tzaddikim was Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai. He revealed the inner, hidden light of the Torah that was concealed since it was first given to Moshe at Har Sinai. On Lag Ba’Omer, we are celebrating the awesome light of the Holy Zohar that was revealed in the world. Reb Shimon’s work, the Zohar HaKadosh, is a powerful revelation of true knowledge and true faith in Hashem. Rebbe Shimon said that through the Zohar, the Jewish people would leave the exile with mercy. The light of the Zohar heals the souls from the suffering of exile and helps us hold on strong until the final redemption.

(It’s no coincidence that as we draw nearer to the end of this exile, there has been tremendous increase in the thirst for Rebbe Shimon’s teachings and Kabbalah in general.)

At the beginning of Rebbe Nachman’s magnum opus, Lekutey Moharan, there is short teaching about the greatness of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai (quoted above). This teaching explains that through the light of Rebbe Shimon, the Torah will never be forgotten from the Jewish people. Through the light of the Zohar, the Jewish people will leave the exile. Therefore, we celebrate today, the day we received this awesome light.

As Reb Noson explains, “This is the celebration of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai that we do on Lag B’Omer, the day he passed away, because the main joy is what we merited, that he left us with such a holy treasure, the holy sefer of Zohar, through which we can merit a perception of Godliness… And therefore through this holy sefer of Zohar we will leave the exile, and the prophecy will become a reality: ‘As in the days that you left Egypt, I will show you wondrous miracles’, meaning that just as when Moshe Rabbeinu took us out of the exile in Egypt by revealing Godly perceptions in wonderful new ways, in the same matter now in the final exile, which is much harder and heavier, we will be able to get out of it, through all the hidden secrets of the Torah that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his friends revealed to us, which are essentially tools and vessels for perception of Godliness… Therefore, we make a grand celebration on Lag Ba’Omer which is the day of the passing of Rabbi Shimon, for we merited that he left us such a great treasure, that will remain for generations and generations, through which we’ll be able to perceive Hashem blessed is He.”

Rebbe Nachman draws an inference to Rabbi Shimon from the verse, “Ir V’kaddish Min Shemaya Nachit (An angel, a holy one, descended from heaven).” The commentaries (Rashi, Metzudat David, etc.) point out that the word “Ir”, here translated as “angel,” literally means “awake.” This is because an angel is always awake – always conscious of G-d. The word “V’kaddish” (a holy one) also applies to an angel, whose holiness can never be defiled. Rebbe Nachman taught that being spiritually “awake” is a condition for heightened awareness and holiness. Thus, it was befitting that this verse be used to described Rabbi Shimon; his heightened awareness made him especially sensitive to the suffering of those exiled, just as it gave him the ability to remedy their plight through the revelation of the Hidden Torah.

After Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai revealed these great and powerful secrets, the Arizal added tremendous depth and insight to these teachings. Then the Baal Shem Tov made this mystical and lofty light accessible to all the great Chassidic leaders, teaching them how to apply these concepts to their daily lives. The Baal Shem Tov’s great-grand son, Rebbe Nachman, made these concepts available to all in the form of practical advice.

After revealing this teaching about Rabbi Shimon, Rebbe Nachman concluded: “But now, there is `nachal novea mekor chokhmah (נחל נובע מקור חכמה; a flowing brook, a wellspring of wisdom)’ (Proverbs 18:4), so that even `a holy one descended from heaven’ must also receive from this brook.”

Rebbe Nachman’s reference to this verse is an allusion to himself. After showing how the names of Rabbi Yochai and Rabbi Shimon are alluded to in Scripture, Rebbe Nachman quotes a verse whose first letters spell NaChMaN (נחמן).

In these words, Rebbe Nachman revealed that he came into the world to continue unveiling the light of Rebbe Shimon in a new way. He came to shine the light of the Zohar for our generation and show every person how precious and holy we are. He offers guidance and practical advice that emerges from the teachings of the Zohar and other kabbalistic works. 

Rebbe Nachman, just like his great-grandfather the holy Baal Shem Tov, is revealing the inner light of the Torah to every single person on their level.

As Rebbe Nachman explains, because Rabbi Shimon is alluded to in the verse, “It will not be forgotten…,” he was able to stand up, regardless of the eminence of the Rabbis gathered, and proclaim that the Torah will not be forgotten. What would guarantee this?

While Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai was able to probe the depths of the Torah and its secrets, he also learned not to judge the world negatively from his elevated level. He could see the true potential in every person. He understood that no matter how distant we may be, no matter how corrupt the world around us grows, we will never forget Hashem and the Torah. Rabbi Shimon knew that the Torah and its flame will burn bright for all eternity.

As Rabbi Yossi Katz writes, “Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was able to reveal that the essence of Torah is sourced in the unity and bond between Hashem and each person. The greatest Torah secrets teach us that we can always connect and discover the Godliness within every place and every person. This is the essence of the Zohar and the life of Rebbe Shimon.”

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai also understood the love Hashem has for His children. As Rabbi Shimon taught, “See how beloved Israel is to the Holy One, blessed be He, for wherever they went into exile, the Divine Presence (Shechinah) went with them: they were exiled to Egypt, and the Shechinah went with them; they were exiled to Babylon, and again the Shechinah went with them. And when Israel will be redeemed in the future, the Shechinah will be redeemed with them, as it is written, ‘And G‑d, your G‑d, will return (with) your exile.’ “

Lag Ba’Omer is a day to reignite our flame and passion for Hashem. Just as Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai revealed the hidden light to the world, Lag Ba’Omer is a time to find the hidden light that shines within ourselves and others.

If you’d like to receive these messages via Whatsapp, please message me at 845-641-2648.

As always, comments are more than welcomed!