“What can you say? You know the story of the Ohr HaChayim – after riding two days on a donkey to get to Meron, he crawled up the mountanside on his hands and knees, crying and groaning that he wasn’t worthy of being at the kever of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai. He says it’s a major part of the annual ruchiynus for himself, his wife and children. It just cannot be explained to someone who’s never been there.” And inside, at the kever, people were davening together, crying, like it was Yom Kippur! I cried along with everyone else. It was so beautiful, I could only say, Mi k’amcha Yisrael!, Who is like your people, Israel! On the bus from Karmiel to Meron, we all sang together Bar Yochai.
“But this year,” he said, “was something special. Shia S., a journalist from Antwerp, flies to Israel almost every year for Lag BaOmer. Hamodia spoke with a few of those who were there, and were kind enough to try to put into words for us what they felt in their hearts: What they felt is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to capture in words, though words are all we have to work with. Most of all, the real story is in the hearts of those who were there, as well as those who participated in the hilula in a thousand other places and were with them in spirit. In the courtyard and its environs, Klal Yisrael, in all its variegations, from chassidic to Modern Orthodox, yeshivish to working guys, Ashkenazim, Sephardim, young and old, came together for joyous dancing and singing on the hilula of Rabi Shimon. Inside, at the kever itself, where thousands upon thousands daven for yeshuos, shidduchim, hatzlachah in Torah and every kind of ezras Hashem, with all their heart. It is not about crowd estimates or organizing efforts or police coordination or even the extraordinary chessed on the part of those who provide food and drink for weary travelers, medical treatment for the injured, or transportation for those with physical limitations who could not attend without their help.įor the real story is inside. But most of all, to a timely outpouring of siyatta diShmaya.Īs every year, the real story of Lag BaOmer cannot be told. This was thanks to the countless hours of preparation that began months ago, the orderly behavior of visitors and the cooperation of the bus companies and the Israeli police, who began stepping up their presence in the area days ago. (Elishama Sandman/Ohr HaRashbi)Īn estimated half-million Jews from all over Eretz Yisrael and the world converged on the kever of the holy Tanna Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai at Meron on Wednesday night and Thursday for the annual Lag BaOmer celebration.ĭespite the huge throngs streaming in and out of Meron from as early as Wednesday afternoon to Thursday evening, there were relatively few reports of delays, traffic jams and other disruptions, compared to past years. Jews have never stopped to study Torah, even during the most mournful times, under the fear of annihilation, and exile from the native land! And thank to this – to own faith and to moral courage – the Jewish people is alive! I am proud of being the representative of this people, who maintained and carried their faith and love to the God through the millennia.Dancing in Meron shortly after the first hadlakah on Wednesday night.
It is the greatness and the inflexibility of Jewish spirit. This day, the victory of Jews in the beginning of the rebellion against Romans in Israel is celebrated.īut the main thing is what we celebrate and what makes us happy on Lag BaOmer. According to many Jewish wise men, this day, manna from heaven appeared in the desert and saved the Jewish people from famine. He entrusted his students with not mourning for him, but enjoying themselves.
This day, one of his favourite students, Shimon bar Yochai, died. And there are many reasons for this: this day is the day of the end of epidemic, which took the lives of 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest wise men and Torah connoisseurs. It is the 33 rd day after the Passover and, despite the prohibition to have fun during this period, Lag BaOmer is joy and fun. We celebrate Lag BaOmer between two, the most important holidays for Jews – the Passover and the Shavuot.
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