What Really Happened to the Students of Rabbi Akiva?

The Secrets of Lag BaOmer

The minor holiday of Lag BaOmer, coming up next Thursday, is traditionally associated with the Divine Tannaitic Sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi) – as well as with the thousands of students of Rabbi Akiva, who "stopped dying" on this day. Both of these are connected to each other...

7. Throwing Clothes into the Bonfire and Praying at the Gravesites of Tzadikim

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Many people had a custom to throw expensive clothing into the bonfire at Meron, explaining that they do so in honor of R. Shimon bar Yoĥai.

6. The Custom of Giving Boys their First Haircut

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Some have a custom to refrain from cutting their sons’ hair until they reach the age of three. When their son reaches that age, they cut his hair and leave his sidelocks.

4. R. Akiva

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Hidden within the hilula celebration of Lag Ba-omer is another memorial: a memorial for the greatest expositor of the Oral Torah, the wondrous Tanna, R. Akiva, one of whose five greatest disciples was R. Shimon bar Yohai.

5. Bonfires on Lag Ba-omer

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

For hundreds of years, there has been a custom to light a large bonfire near R. Shimon bar Yoĥai’s grave on Mount Meron, in honor of his hilula.

3. The Personality of R. Shimon bar Yohai

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Before we elaborate on the customs of the hilula, we will briefly discuss the unique character of R. Shimon bar Yoĥai and his mentor, R. Akiva.

2. The Hilula of R. Shimon bar Yohai

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Many people have a custom to spend Lag Ba-omer on Mount Meron, where R. Shimon bar Yoĥai (Rashbi) and his son, R. Elazar, are buried.

1. Lag Ba-omer

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

It is customary to rejoice somewhat on Lag Ba-omer. Even though we observe some customs of mourning during the omer period, nevertheless, one may sing and dance on Lag Ba-omer.

Give Space Before Harmonizing

Ein Aya Shabbat 2, 276

Rav Kook teaches that opposing legitimate ideals inevitably first appear as contradictory, but eventually harmonize with each other. So by all partnerships and inter-personal and relationships, as well as ideological rabbinic machloket.

The Secret of Mount Meron

Translated by Hillel Fendel

Every year, more and more myriads of people stream to the gravesite of the author of the Kabbalah, Rav Shimon bar Yochai, in the Galilee hilltop village of Meron – signaling mounting anticipation of the Redemption itself!

"Reality Has No Wings" - Revolutions & Improvements Must be Done Patiently

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 274

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 274

Lag Ba'Omer

All traditions do agree though, that on the 33rd day of the count of the Omer these disciples of Rabbi Akiva did stop dying. It is interesting that we have a semi-holiday, nbecause somehow the evil decree allowed by heaven to end so many lives, such as it was, would not continue.

Clothing

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 268

What is the idea behind what the Talmud teaches that we must respect clothing? Rav Kook, as always, has innovative ideas behind the topic of clothing, not just in regard to tzniut and modesty, but philosophically, as well.

When Does Judaism Allow Tzaddikim to Separate From the Physical World?

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 267

ome righteous people, like R. Shimon bar Yochai, already live as if they were in the world-to-come, with just minimal physical pleasure. Their priorities are so clear that they even have difficulty tolerating those who work & live in the "regular" world. The carob tree that miraculously grew for them in the cave, represents selflessness, where even one's planting is for their descendants, not for themselves. Similar to God, Who created this world out of altruism, for us, so too when one plants in Eretz Yisrael he's doing so for generations to come for Israel is our eternal home, as fruit-trees benefit coming generations. In Israel, when in Jewish hands, there's no ideal to separate from this physical world, for even the physical is holy.

Why Did Moshe (& Rashbi!) Separate From His Wife & Life?

Ein Aya, shabbat 2, 265

We all know that Judaism stresses and even obligates us to marry and the importance of having a family life, but the question is, why was Moshe, the ideal Jew, davka told to separate from his wife? Rav Kook deals with the issue as he deals with R. Shimon Bar Yochai's similar separation from his wife and from his regular life. In addition to several other explanations, he compares Moshe Rabbenu with Adam and Mashiach..

The "Sinking" of the Gedolim & the Rise of the Masses

Ein Aya ii, Shabbat 2, 264

"Hitkatnut haDorot", means the generations are going "downhill" as we get further from Sinai. On the other hand, Rav Kook & Ramchal often refer to the "Evolution" built into the world, that mankind is continuously improving through trial & error, better conditions & techniques, not to mention computers and technology. Accordingly, today we see unprecedented masses are learning Torah, including women, unique & innovative programs, the web etc. but the Gedolim are still descending. Rav Kook sees the benefit of this phenomenon, showing the advantages of the massive quest for truth, who davka feel today's rabbis approachable, as a "step-down" mechanism. Similarly, ideas must be revealed in the right time & we can't skip stages nor take shortcuts.

"Hawks" & "Doves" in Our Relationship with Gentiles

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 263

There always were different approaches as to how we should relate to gentiles. Obviously different approaches are suited for various periods, but Rav Kook helps clarify which to use & when? R. Yehuda praised the Romans' bridges, markets & bathhouses, R. Yossi chose not to comment, & R. Shimon Bar Yochai totally derided them, saying that even those contributions to the Land of Israel were for their own selfish pleasures. The first approach posits to accept the good from the gentiles, & this is the most advantageous & practical approach towards the gentiles themselves, especially during exile. Contrarily, when we can be independent, we must fight evil, for the sake of the weak, for society, & also for the sake of the evil themselves.

"Unmasking" Christianity: Not Physical vs. Spiritual but Good vs. Selfish

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 261

Chazal liken Esav, the Romans and Christians to the pig= externally kosher but internally not. Rav Kook stands on the difference between Israel & Christianity, which did away with the observance of mitzvot, claiming that all God wants is morality, to looks nice but Crusade. The Romans legitimize physical pleasure even when it's selfish, the Catholics see physical pleasure as problematic, and especially the social, political, military & economic as void of God and belonging to "Caesar". They simplistically divide the world as black-white, good-bad, physical-spiritual, setting unrealistic goals which infer that God made mistakes in creating physical pleasure. Judaism believes God is Perfect and there is good phys. pleasure vs. the selfish.

"When Good Comes From a Bad Place..."- How to Take Just the Good?

Ein Aya, Shabbat 2, 260

Adults know that in the complex world, things often aren't good or bad, but usually a combination of the two. Rav Kook directs us that this sorting & classification to take the good & leave the bad, must generally be done by the experienced and well-rounded righteous, whose right & wrong are so clear, they will not be blinded or deceived to confuse the two. The complex world has matured and doesn't enable censorship, leaving us no choice but to utilize the Godly gifts of technology & knowledge wisely, as part of the modern Messianic Torah which knows to judge the essence & not the external. Similarly, secular Zionism was partially problematic, but will we not let the non-religious give charity?! Don't be naive but also don't deny reality!