Atonement of Sins:
We may add that Lag B’Omer is comparable to Yom Kippur because sins are forgiven on this day.
Sefer Sifsei Tzadik writes that on Lag B’Omer, Rav Henoch of Alexander zy”a would bless his chasidim that their tefillos should be accepted in Shomayim. The Sifsei Tzadik adds that perhaps his intentions were that on Motzoei Yom Kippur, it is customary to bless people with those words because it is usually not easy for one’s tefillos to be accepted since our sins get in the way. On Yom Kippur, however, we atone for our sins, so Motzoei Yom Kippur is a good time for prayers to be accepted. So too, Rav Shimon bar Yochai said that he could exempt the entire world from judgment (Sukkah 45B), which means that on his Yahrzeit, he helps everyone atone for their sins. Therefore, it is a good time for tefillos to be accepted.
The Sifsei Tzadik concludes by saying that this explains the minhag to rejoice on this day. The Gemara says (Taanis 26B) that the happiest days of the year were Yom Kippur and Tu B’Av. Yom Kippur was a happy day because our sins are forgiven on this day. Accordingly, since our sins are forgiven on Lag B’Omer as well, this too is a day of rejoicing.
Kol Haposhet Yad Nosnim Lo:
The Rebbe of Boyan-Lemberg zy”a said on Lag B’Omer 5695: “Lag B’Omer is similar to Purim in the sense that ‘kol haposhet yad nosen lo’ – anyone who sticks out his hand is given what he desires. The main thing is to know how to stretch out your hand.”
Like Shevi’I Shel Pesach:
Sefer Ateres Yeshua writes that Lag B’Omer is a time when we can bring parnassah to this world, just like on the seventh day of Pesach when Kriyas Yam Suf occurred, which Chazal relate to parnassah (Pesachim 118A).
The Beginning of Kabolas Hatorah:
The Bnei Yissochor writes that there is a minhag to light candles on this day in honor of the great light that begins to shine on Lag B’Omer, 17 days before Matan Torah.
Like Yom Tov Sheni:
The Bais Avrohom of Slonim zy”a (quoted in M’Zekeinim Esbonen, Chelek 1, page 99) says that Lag B’Omer was given to the residents of Eretz Yisroel in the place of Yom Tov Sheni of golus.
The Sanctity of the Day:
Sefer Hilula D’Rashbi (page 167) states that when Rav Avrohom of Kalisk zy”a would immerse in the mikvah on the morning of Lag B’Omer, he would say, “I accept upon myself the holiness of the day!”
Meriting Yiras Hashem:
The Sefas Emes (Parshas Emor 5652) writes that he heard from his grandfather, the Chidushei Harim zy”a, that on Lag B’Omer, one can merit yiras Hashem.
An Auspicious Day For Teshuva:
Sefer Ye’aros Devash (Chelek 2, Drush 11) writes that Lag B’Omer is an auspicious day for teshuva because the zechus of Rav Shimon bar Yochai helps us become pure. Therefore, one should spend this day doing teshuva and not wasting time, as this causes pain to Rav Shimon.
Supernatural Simcha:
The Bnei Yissochor writes that the simcha on this day by the Tzion of Rav Shimon bar Yochai is “beyond the natural”.
Rav Shimon Rejoices With Those Who Come to Him:
Sefer Masa’os Yerushalaim (page 158) relates the following story, which was said by the Minchas Elazar of Munkatch zy”a, who heard it from the Shinova Rov zy”a, who heard it from a reliable source from the city of Tzefas:
The author of Sefer Hacharedim served as the shamash of the bais medrash in Tzefas during the times of the Bais Yosef, Arizal and Alshich. When he was young, he hid his greatness, conducting himself like a simple Jew.
One year on Lag B’Omer, the Arizal and his students were by the tzion of Rav Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, and they were dancing with much dveikus and enthusiasm. There also was a very tall old man there, who had a long white beard and was dressed in white clothing. Suddenly, the Arizal grabbed the old man’s hands and started dancing with him. They danced together for a long time, and the Arizal then took the hand of the Charedim and brought him into the joyous dance.
Afterwards, the students built up the courage to ask the Arizal why he danced for so long with an old man that none of them knew and with the simple shamash of the shul.
The Arizal answered, “If the Tanna Elokoi, Rav Shimon bar Yochai, chose to dance with the shamash, shouldn’t I also dance with him?”
They then understood that the tall old man was Rav Shimon himself. He had come to dance and rejoice at his hilula. They also now knew that the shamash was a holy tzadik.
Rejoicing with Fellow Jews:
Rav Yisroel Shimon Kastelanitz zt”l (Sefer M’Zekenim Esbonen, Chelek 1, page 100) relates that he once was in Meron, together with the elderly Slonimer chasid, Rav Mendel Veg zt”l, and they danced with much passion. During the dancing, Rav Mendel said to him, “The Kobriner Rebbe said that when Yidden are happy, you should stick your head between them.”
The Avodah of the Rebbe of Razvodov:
Rav Moshe of Rozvodov zy”a (son of Rav Eliezer of Dzikov zy”a and son-in-law of the Yitav Lev of Sighet zy”a) would not meet with the public during the year to allow them to ask him to daven and create salvations for them. The one exception was on Lag B’Omer, when he allowed everyone in and blessed everyone. Many people received salvations after receiving his bracha on Lag B’Omer.
On this day, he would daven for the amud and say Kadish, and he also would light a candle in honor of the Yahrzeit and give “tikkun”. The Tzvi L’Tzadik of Bluzhov zy”a would jokingly say, “Rav Shimon passed away 2,000 years ago but he still has a young orphaned son in this world...”
Sefer Hachachmah Me’ayin (page 132) quotes Rav Yitzchok of Stutchin zy”a, the son of Rav Moshe of Rozvodov, as saying that his father said on Lag B’Omer, “If I could be in Meron on Lag B’Omer, I could bring about all kinds of yeshuos for Yidden and, perhaps, even the true yeshua, the arrival of Moshiach.”
Moshiach’s Arrival on Lag B’Omer:
One Lag B’Omer, the Tzvi L’Tzadik of Bluzhov zy”a was speaking about Moshiach and he said, “I can’t say when he will come but I can say for sure that he will come on Lag B’Omer.”
Promised to Have Children:
Sefer Siach Zekeinim (Chelek 3, page 79) relates the following:
Rav Yitzchok of Stutchin zy”a (the son of Rav Moshe of Rozvodov zy”a) lived in the city of Tarnow. One of his chasidim who also lived in that city did not have any children and he would often ask his Rebbe to give him a bracha but Rav Yitzchok demurred. This left the man feeling lost, with no idea what else he could do.
One year, when the chasidim were waiting for the Rebbe to start his tish on Lag B’Omer, this chasid decided that he wouldn’t allow the Rebbe to leave his room until he guaranteed him a child. He stood outside the door, holding it shut, so that the Rebbe would not be able to get out.
When the Rebbe wanted to leave the room, he was unable to open the door. He realized that someone was holding it closed, so he called out, “Who’s there?”
The chasid answered, “It’s me. I want a bracha to have a son.”
The Rebbe angrily said, “Let me out!”
The chasid replied, “I won’t let the Rebbe out until he blesses me with a son.”
Finally, the Rebbe promised that he would give his blessing and the chasid let him out.
At the tish, the Rebbe “explained himself to Hashem” and said, “What could I do? Could I give up the Lag B’Omer tish? I had no choice.”
And the chasid had a child within the year.
Learning From Rav Shimon:
Sefer Botzina D’Nehora relates that the Rebbe of Lechovitch zy”a and Rav Aharon of Stolin zy”a traveled to Rav Boruch of Mezhibozh zy”a for Lag B’Omer seven times. On this day, Rav Boruch’s tish went on for a very long time.
One year, in the middle of the tish, Rav Boruch got very emotional. He stood up and said, “Boruch haba Rav Shimon.”
This led everyone to be overcome with fear.
Another year on Lag B’Omer, Rav Boruch grasped a copy of the Zohar Hakadosh and recited the pasuk (Yeshaya 63:16): “For You are our father, for Avrohom did not know us, neither did Yisroel recognize us.” He then said, “Rav Shimon, from you we know how to recognize Hashem.”
Learning the Zohar Like Rav Shimon Intended:
Sefer Yifrach B’Yamav Tzadik (page 22) relates that someone once told the Sanzer Rov zy”a that Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Zidachoiv zy”a once broke the ice of a river and went into the frigid water to be toivel, and he learned Zohar Hakadosh all night while immersed in the freezing water. The Rov responded, “I also could break ice and sit in freezing water. But to learn Zohar with the kavanos that Rav Shimon intended is something only the Zidichoiver Rebbe could do.”
Rav Shimon is for Everyone:
The Karliner Rebbe zy”a would say, “Just like Hashem is there for everyone, Rashbi is there for everyone, even for lowly people.”
One year on Lag B’Omer, his grandson, the Stoliner Rebbe was asked to explain this statement. He said, “Why are you asking me about this statement? No one comprehends more than half of what is written in Sefer Bais Aharon. But perhaps we can say that this means that every tzadik is revealed to a person on the level that person is holding. However, this does not apply to Rav Shimon. He is revealed equally to everyone. Even lowly people can see his full holiness.”
On another occasion, he told a chasid who asked him the same question, “I can’t explain to you who Rav Shimon was. But I can say that he was a Rebbe with chasidim. Some Rebbes only allow in those who wear a shtreimel and some only allow in those who wear a long kapota and have a beard and gartel. Rav Shimon, however, is a Rebbe for everyone – for chasidim and misnagdim, for those who wear shtreimels and those who don’t, for those who have gartels and those who don’t, for those who have beards and those who don’t. Just like Hashem is everyone’s G-d, Rav Shimon is everyone’s Rebbe.”
