The Gemara (Shabbos 33:) relates that Reb Shimon bar Yochai, Reb Yosi, and Reb Yehudah were discussing the Roman Empire. Reb Yehudah praised the Roman Empire and said, "They built marketplaces, bridges, and bathhouses..." All of these make it easier for people to serve Hashem. Therefore, we should praise them. Reb Yosi didn't respond. Reb Shimon argued, saying, "They did everything for their benefit..." Reb Shimon bar Yochai didn't consider their accomplishments a reason to have hakaras hatov because they did it for themselves.
Yehudah ben Geirim was present at this conversation, and he repeated it. One person told the next until the Roman government eventually heard about their discussion. The Romans said, "We will honor Reb Yehudah because he praised Rome. Reb Yosi was silent, so he will be exiled to Tzipori. Reb Shimon disgraced Rome, and he will be killed."
Reb Shimon hid in a beis medresh with his son Reb Elazar to protect himself. Every day, Reb Shimon's wife brought them bread and water. When Reb Shimon understood that the Romans were increasing their efforts to find him, Reb Shimon feared that they might torture his wife to reveal where they were hiding, so Reb Shimon and his son Reb Elazar hid in a cave. No one knew where they were.
But what will they do about food and drink? A miracle occurred for them. Hashem created a carob tree and a water spring in the cave. They wore their clothing only during davening so that the clothing would last a long time. Throughout the day, they studied Torah while covered to their necks in sand.
Reb Shimon and Reb Elazar lived in the cave for thirteen years, and they studied Torah by day and by night with all their strength. They acquired extremely high spiritual levels, as we sing והדרך הודך קנית שם, "There [in the cave] you acquired your glory." This refers to the wisdom of Kabbalah, the Zohar, which was revealed to them there, in the cave.
How did they find the courage to leave the cave?
Leaving the Cave
24. There's another Chazal that tells the story of their leaving the cave as follows:
After Reb Shimon and Reb Elazar stayed in the cave for twelve years, Eliyahu HaNavi arrived at the cave entrance and announced, "Who will notify Bar Yochai that the king died and the decree was annulled?" Hearing the message, they left the cave.
The Maharal (Netzach Yisrael 28) writes, "Know, there are certainly locations in the world conducive for holiness. The cave where Reb Shimon hid is such a place. There is no doubt that Eliyahu HaNavi appeared to Reb Shimon several times in the cave. It is irrelevant whether Eliyahu appeared to him in a manner that Reb Shimon saw and knew that it was Eliyahu HaNavi or whether Eliyahu appeared to Reb Shimon and he didn't see him. Eliyahu often tells someone something, giving him an idea or a thought, and the person doesn’t know where the idea came from. He thinks it is his thought, but they are really Eliyahu's words, speaking to him."
25. It states 'ה תושיע ובהמה אדם, and the gematriya is י"רשב (Magdil Yeshuos Malko, Barniv, 55). This tells us that even when one is at a low level, the level of an animal, Hashem will help him in Reb Shimon's merit.
Rambam (Pirush HaMishnayos, Parah 3:3) writes, "There is no difference between a person who had never become tamei, to a person who was tamei, but was purified with the parah adumah. [They are both equally tahor.] And even more, the one who was once tamei is better because the Torah speaks about him and says that he is tahor!" Some quote this Rambam in connection to the Beis Aharon, who says that Lag b'Omer is for everyone, even for those on low levels. Since he mentions, specifically, the people at low levels, this means that Lag b'Omer is even more for them than for the greater people.
