Rebbe Yehoshua of Kaminka zt'l teaches:
The Gemara (Brachos 58.) says that the Beis HaMikdash is called הוד. We can therefore deduce that שבהוד הוד is the Kodesh Kadoshim. On Lag b'Omer, שבהוד הוד, we are in the Kodesh Kadoshim, similar to the kohen gadol who goes to the Kodesh Kadoshim on Yom Kippur. (Interestingly, we sing in the Bar Yochai song, בקודש יוחאי בר הקדשים.)
Rebbe Tzaddok HaCohen zt’l (Tzikdas HaTzaddik 127) writes, "The Zohar (Chayei Sarah p.129) states that when a person does teshuvah – even the greatest rasha – he rises to the highest levels. Rebbe Bunim of Peshischa zt'l said that this is in the merit of Reb Shimon bar Yochai. He accomplished through his toil in avodas Hashem that a baal teshuvah should reach the highest levels."
It is possible to shed tears and be joyous at the same – it is not a contradiction. We see this at a chasunah. The mechutanim cry at the chuppah, and they are happier than everyone else present. The Lag b'Omer celebration is called a Hilulah, which means chasunah in Aramaic. There is crying and joy, simultaneously.
Rebbe Shlomke Zvhiler zt'l said (צחות בדרך) that all yomim tovim are alluded to in the celebration of Lag b'Omer in Meron. Some Sefardim have the custom of slaughtering sheep near the tzion. This reminds us of the korban Pesach. The mountains surrounding the tzion remind us of Shavuos (when Hashem gave the Torah on Har Sinai). And the tents that people erect around the tzion remind us of Succos. Based on the description told to the Ruzhiner, we can add two more holidays experienced in Meron on Lag b'Omer: Yom Kippur and Simchas Torah. The tears of teshuvah are like Yom Kippur, and the joy is like Simchas Torah.
After Yom Kippur, people have a custom to say גוט אלעס ט'געפועל האטס, that your tefillos should be answered and all good should come to you. The Sifsei Tzaddik of Piltz zt'l (Lag b'Omer 1) says that Reb Henoch of Alexander zt'l would also say these words after Lag b'Omer. This is because on these days, all our aveiros are atoned for, making it easier for our tefillos to be answered.
Teshuvah on Lag B'Omer
Reb Yohonoson Eibshitz zt'l (Yaaras Dvash vol.2, 11) writes, "It is proper for every yirei shamayim to do teshuvah on Lag b'Omer because Reb Shimon's merit will help him do teshuvah so that the person doesn't spend his life with foolishness, which is a tzaar for this tzaddik."
A hint is that יוחאי בר שמעון is gematriya (Yeshaya 6:10) לו ורפא ושב יבין, "He will understand, do teshuvah, and be healed."
The Sar Shalom of Belz once spoke about the greatness of Lag b'Omer, and his son, Reb Zundel zt'l, said, "Lag b'Omer is like Yom Kippur." His father said that he was correct.
The Chasam Sofer (Drashos vol.2 280.) also writes that Lag b'Omer is like Yom Kippur. On Lag b'Omer, people sing עקיבא 'ר אמר מטהרים אתם מי לפני ישראל אשריכם, "Fortunate are you, Yisrael! Before Whom do you purify yourselves and Who purifies you!" These words discuss Yom Kippur, but we sing them on Lag b'Omer because also on Lag b'Omer, our sins are removed like on Yom Kippur.
We wrote about someone describing Lag b'Omer in Meron to Rebbe Yisrael of Ruzhin zt'l. He said, "Inside, by the tzion, it is like Yom Kippur, and outside, in the courtyard, it is like Simchas Torah." The Ruzhiner zt'l praised this description immensely. This source is another indication of the association between Lag b'Omer and Yom Kippur, Lag b'Omer, and atonement.
