Studying Lag BaOmer—Connecting to the Essence of the Day
We Can Even be in Meron, But Remain Unconnected
When the great day of Lag BaOmer arrives, there are many Yidden who feel a tremendous inner pleasure as a result of their deep inner connection to this exalted day. But then there are those who sadly don’t feel this connection, and their Lag BaOmer is, at best, felt in external inyanim. For example, a person lives in America, and wishes to feel a connection to the Yom Tov, and so he picks himself up and makes his way to Meron. The problem is that while there, he’s preoccupied with all the externals... getting a nice apartment, and arranging all sorts of other things. Everyone already knows that this person goes for Lag BaOmer because he has business there. The only question to him is: “when are you flying?”
But what happens on the year that this person can’t make the trip? That’s when the true nekudah comes to the fore: how does his Lag BaOmer look now? If he says: “if I can’t be in Meron, then I have nothing,” this means that for all the previous years, he received his chiyus from the surrounding aspects of the trip... the traveling, the change in schedule, and so forth. But this person has no connection to the essence of the day. He’s not connected to Lag BaOmer.
It’s very easy to become preoccupied with the external aspects of the day and distracted from its essence.
Every Yid Can Connect with The Essence of the Day
The good news is that in every stage of life, even at ninety years old, we can connect anew with the holiness of the day. It’s never too late.
And one mustn’t be in Meron in order to connect—let’s remember that most of the Torah from the great tzaddikim over the greatness of Lag BaOmer was said by luminaries who never set foot in Meron! Nevertheless, they had such light and such fervor from the day—because they were connected to its essence. They had an appreciation for the kedushah of Rashbi; they knew what transpires on this holy day; and they connected with it deeply—and thus merited to feel great spiritual pleasure on the day of Lag BaOmer, regardless of where in the world they found themselves.
Every single Yid has this ability—according their level—to connect to the פנימיות of the day. And really, this is true of every Yom Tov. Sadly, so many allow these exalted times to come and go while preoccupied with trivialities and externals. And just like every Yom Tov, every Yid has the ability arrive at tremendous spiritual pleasure on this exalted day.
The Main Connection is to the Essence
The Ribbono shel Olam gave us the gift of Lag BaOmer and it is entirely independent of anything external—since tzaddikim who were never even in Meron were able to feel such a connection and such a fire on this day.
Surely, if one can make it to the holy tziyun, this is a wonderful thing—but the gift of Lag BaOmer isn’t dependent on where one is. Sadly, there are people who do make it to Meron, but all they remember is how many bonfires they attended.... This person may have even been at the me’arah, but he has no connection to the day.
Lag BaOmer is a Gift for Everyone
This holy day is relevant and important not only for those on a lofty level—but also for those on a simple level. Every Yid who studies the inyan of Lag BaOmer can very easily connect to its essence with a joy and feeling. Conversely, if we neglect to properly learn and study it, we cannot expect for it to permeate our hearts.
This is similar to a group of doctors who attend a medical conference where they will hear from an esteemed professor who will share new discoveries in the world of medicine. One person happens to wander into the conference, and observes how the attendees are beside themselves with wonder and awe at what they’re hearing, while he doesn’t understand what the big fuss is all about. These physicians feel like their biggest questions are being answered here... this knowledge will help them chart a new path in their practice of medicine—it is a new era—but this guests doesn’t understand a word; he isn’t impressed at all.
These doctors aren’t greater than their guest. The difference between them is only that they live this field, and they understand the concepts being discussed. They have a connection to it, and they thus enjoy hearing about it.
When we “Learn” the Yom Tov, We Develop an Appreciation for It
The same applies to words of Torah. For example, if one will hear a shiur on the halachos of tzitzis, and he studies the sugya in depth, he will derive great spiritual pleasure from the performance of the mitzvah. One doesn’t need to attain lofty madreigos in order to appreciate the mitzvah of tzitzis, and one doesn’t need to be a genius in order to derive pleasure from it—all we need is to delve into it to the best of our abilities, thus connecting to it.
And when it comes to a Yom Tov, it is likewise the same. The more a Yid learns about the exalted moment, the more he connects to it, and thus derives more pleasure from it, feeling it and living it.
