Introduction
The 33rd day of the Omer is celebrated as the day when a plague that wiped out 24,000 students of Rabbi Akivah, one of the greatest sages of Talmudic times, suddenly ceased. The plague had its origins in a spiritual deficiency, our Sages tell us, for the students "did not show respect one to the other." On their exalted level, they were considered lacking in the love of their fellow Jew. Lag B'omer therefore reminds us to increase Jewish unity and brotherhood.
Of even greater significance, Lag B'omer is the anniversary of the passing of the great Sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, known by his acronym, Rashbi – author of the Zohar. Just prior to his passing, he instructed all Jewry to celebrate the day of Lag B'omer as his Yom Hilula ("Day of Rejoicing"). On the day of one's passing, their lifetime's sum of Torah, prayer and good deeds is elevated and revealed. Especially in the case of a Tzadik (and certainly an unparalleled Tzadik such as Rashbi), each anniversary "causes salvations" here on Earth. In addition, on that day, he revealed more teachings from the Torah's innermost mysteries (Kabalah – the "soul" of Torah) than he had done throughout his entire lifetime.
Joy for All Jewry
- Lag B'omer, Rashbi's Yom Hilula, is a Yom Tov and a day of rejoicing.
- Rashbi personally introduced and announced this day as his Yom Hilula; and instructed the entire Jewish people to rejoice on this day.
