Becoming Talmidim of Rabbi Shimon
This is an incredible teaching from Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai that applies to all of us, and when one learns from Rabbi Shimon, one becomes a talmid of Rabbi Shimon. The Rebbe Reb Baruch’l of Mezhibuz would dance with the Zohar HaKadosh because he felt so close to the holy Tanna. “Rabbi Shimon illuminated for me how to look at the Torah and mitzvos,” he would say.
Here we have such a clear teaching that we can learn from Rabbi Shimon, and learning from the Tanna will serve as a protection for us— because learning his Torah makes us his talmidim, and a rebbi has the power to influence and impart protection to his student.
And this is what we say further in the piyyut:
.תורתו מגן לנו היא מאירת עינינו הוא ימליץ טוב בעדינו
May the Torah of Rabbi Shimon serve as a protection for all those who follow in his ways.
