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Lag B’Omer is also the yahrtzeit of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, one of the most mystical figures in Jewish history. Who was he, and why do we celebrate his life so brightly?
To answer, let’s recall a strange story about bar Yochai (known by his acronym "Rashbi"). Sought by the Romans for slander, Rashbi and his son run away and hide in a cave for 12 years. A carob tree and a spring of water
miraculously nourish them; they take off their clothes and sit in sand up to their necks, studying Torah all day long. Then Elijah the Prophet comes and informs them that the emperor has died; it is now safe for them to emerge.
Stepping out of their cave, they see men plowing their fields and they shout: "These people forsake eternal life (Torah study) and embrace mundane, temporary life!" Whatever they look at is burnt up in fire. G-d then orders Rashbi and his son back into the cave for another year. When they emerge once again, they see a man running late on Friday afternoon with 2 bundles of myrtle.
"What are those for?" they ask him. "To light on Shabbat," says the man, "one light is for Zachor (remember the Shabbat day) and one light is for Shamor! (observe the Shabbat day)." Rashbi is impressed: "See how precious Mitzvot are to Israel!" he says, and his spirit is finally eased.
We are told - as a way of indicating the righteousness of bar Yochai - that in Rashbi’s generation no rainbow was ever seen. Why not? Because the rainbow is a post-Flood sign of G-d’s eternal promise to always protect us. But when a generation has a Tzadik, a righteous person like Rashbi in it, he serves to protects the nation, and so no rainbow is needed.
But Rashbi had to learn that not everyone in the world can be a Tzadik who learns Torah in a cave all day long; most people need to work and lead normal lives. "Regular" people may make lots of mistakes, and are not perfect, but they have redeeming qualities, too. And when they do even the simplest Mitzva, such as lighting Shabbat candles, they are precious in G-d’s sight.
Rashbi is enlightened when he understands humanity is a glorious rainbow; we come in all colors of the spectrum; each human being has a spark of holiness. That Israel lights fires on Lag B’Omer - even without knowing why! -
is a symbol of our collective Holiness. Lag B’Omer may even be a tikun, a correction, for the actions of Rabbi Akiva’s students: They did not respect one other enough; but as we join together in a blaze of glory, we shine a
beacon of unity to Heaven that protects us and can dispel any danger.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
