Understanding Lag Baomer

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  • #1731829
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    The Mershoh explains that if someone lives through two thirds of his accountable years he wil not sin anymore.
    The fifty days of sefira is fifty years that a person is heavenly accountable. The normal life is sevehty from which he is not responsiiblle for twenty years and two thirds of fifty is around thirty three. By birrh of a boy the firsr thirty three days is yemei tohoro.

    #1732016
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    All three of the sofers, the Chasam Sofer, his son the Ksav Sofer and his son the Shevet Sofer three generatiions where each one served around thirty three years a total of a hundred years in rabonus based on
    גל עיני ואביטה נפלאות מתורתך open my eyes that I can see wonders from your Torah, where ‘gal’ is thirty three.

    #1732018
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    To correct above, lf he lives through without sinnig two third of his heavenly accountable years, he will not sin anymore.

    #1732354
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    The Zohar, Rav Shimon bar Yochai says ישראל ואורייתא וקב’ה חד הוא can be understood seeing ourselves around a circle and Hashem is in the middle. All of us are equal distance from the center and part of the circle. Through the Torah we unite and become a smaller circle and eventually become one point which coincides with the center.

    #1732411
    midwesterner
    Participant

    How can the above be reconciled with Yochanan Kohen Gadol?

    #1732466

    a teshuvah (responsum) of Rav Shmuel Wosner z”l, stemming from a תוספתא that states המרקד לשלהבת הרי זה מדרכי אמורי.
    the full teshuvah of Rav Wosner (שו”ת שבט הלוי, חלק ז, יורה דעה סימן קלו

    #1732467

    Lag B’Omer [ Has gone so overboard & taken so overboard one can conjecture it] borders on Bal Tosif

    #1732465

    Where is Kever Rashbi located ?

    According to R. Menachem Hachevroni (14th century) in Kfar Chananya
    (15 km. south of Meron)

    2) When was Rashbi niftar ?

    According to the Chida there is no Mekor that he was niftar on Lag Baomer

    3) Who wrote the Zohar ?

    According to the Yavetz it was R. Moishe d’Leon

    4) How can you bring nachas to Rashbi (guaranteed) ?

    The Shoel Umeishiv ( 5 – 39) writes ” if you distribute the money to Aniyei Eretz Yisroel
    instead of spending it to go to his Kever etc., he guarantees Rashbi will have much more Nachas Ruach.

    #1732677
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    Truth, see Teshuva Meahava 1:26 about the Zohar

    #1969363
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    Gal einai veabita niflaos mitoresacha, open my eyes to see wonders from your Torah where gal is 33, lag.

    #1969390
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    There is a remez in Breishis for Rashbi aleph, tov indicating that he ecplained everything from beginning to the end.

    #1969395
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    The Ostrovtzer, Meir Einei Chachomim, ties multiple views of Rebbe Shimon together for Lag Baomer.

    #1969669
    Shalom-al-Israel
    Participant

    נהפך לאבל מחולינו…

    So many victims in Meron….

    Father in Shomayim hob rachmonus.

    #1969839
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Truth,

    That is Not what the Yavetz says regarding the Zohar. He insists that Rab Shimon is the central author of the Zohar. The point is that certain practical halacha in the Zohar, is only practiced by the Sefardim. Because those passages were added in Spain.

    #1971458
    Yid92
    Participant

    @it is time for truth
    virtually all the gedolai yisrael hold that the zohar is from the rashbi, including the arizal, the gra and his talmidim, the baal shem tov and his talmidim. the ramchal and his talmidim. and many many others.

    #1971459
    Yid92
    Participant

    also, if u know where the yaavetz talks about it i definitely would like to see it. please lmk

    #1971511
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    The Magen Avraham SA, O’CH 25,11 says, on the sfard custom of putting tefilin on the hand sitting down from the Radvas, that halacha trumps kabala, so it should be done standing at least the brocho.

    #1971513
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Yid,

    Authorship meant something completely different to the luminaries of yore. And still, the only one (To my little knowledge.) that puts Reb Shimon as the author of the Zohar is the G”RA. If you have a good source on the Ba’al Shem and the origins of the Zohar, I would absolutely love to hear about it!

    The yaavetz wrote a whole treatise on this very topic. Mitpachat Sofrim. Though I do not agree with how his conclusions are commonly quoted.

    #1971574
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    A talmid of the talmid of the GRA (Rav Menachem Mendel of Shakelav) Rav Yitzchak Eisick Chaver in his sefer Pischei Sheorim explains the kabalistic terminologies in simple lashon hakadesh.

    #1971576
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    Look at chabad web site to see a discussion about who wrote the Zohar under the heading The Zohar’s Mysterious Origins by searching for Zohar.

    #1971821
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Reb Eliezer,

    I’ve see it. It does not add any merits to the antiquity of the Zohar. It is clear that the author of the Zohar had the Talmud in book form. The best question is what were the principle sources.

    #2183935
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    bump

    #2184009
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Four years later, and I still don’t understand.

    #2184010
    CS
    Participant

    My understanding of Lag Baomer is that it’s a special day of the revelation of Pnimiyus HaTorah, achdus and a very special day for spiritual growth and also to daven. In Chana it is also a special day that The Rebbeim would give brachos and especially for children. We go to Meron but can also as easily go to The Ohel since their neshamos are connected

    #2184187
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    The talmidim of Rebbi Akiva did not respect each other as they felt that they all have same rebbi and one does not know more than other. This is an error as we should respect the Torah knowledge one has regardless of how much.

    #2184241
    CS
    Participant

    *Chabad (not Chana)

    #2184269
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Cs,

    That’s a theory. It seems silly to celebrate a day based on something that is totally unsubstantiated.

    #2184305
    huju
    Participant

    I know a Reform Jewish physicist who thinks Lag Baomer is the Hebrew word for Doppler effect.

    #2184307
    CS
    Participant

    What’sa theory

    #2184327
    CS
    Participant

    If you’re referring to other points, there’s sources for all. Just wasn’t sure what exactly you thought was theory

    #2184325
    CS
    Participant
    #2184384
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Cs,

    It’s a theory that lag baomer is associated with pnemius hatorah. I know you didn’t create it and it has multiple citations. But it’s still only a theory.

    So we should have a celebrated day, because a theory about theories gained universal traction?!?

    #2184428
    CS
    Participant

    Nomesora, how is it a theory, if it has multiple citations? Rashbi was nistalek while revealing tremendous secrets of Torah, and we’re celebrating those revelations which lead us towards geula (as is known the quote about the Zohar). But hey, if you find Lag Baomer Meaningful for other reasons, please share.

    I forgot that The Rebbe chose Lag Baomer as a parade day to inculcate Jewish pride, and that’s another theme of the day today in Lubavitch.

    #2184577
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Cs,

    Citations doesn’t take it out of the realm of theory until those sources can tell us why it is so. And these sources are all after the fact of lag baomer, so they don’t signify that this was the purpose. It’s just the way of explaining what is already custom. That is theory. I didn’t celebrate it growing up, and I still don’t.

    The Rebbe was adamant that lag baomer was not the day rashbi died. it’s a misspelling. It reads, the day he rejoiced. And there is no mention of it in the Zohar.

    #2184701
    CS
    Participant

    Nomesorah
    “The Rebbe was adamant that lag baomer was not the day rashbi died. ”

    Source?

    #2184727
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant
    #2184990
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Cs,

    A letter to Rav Sh”Y Zevin

    From chabad org
    I Will Write It In Their Hearts vol 4
    An explanation of the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Lag BaOmer
    Letter No. 485:

    #2185051
    CS
    Participant

    Nomesorah, thanks for that letter, I never learned that before. However it seems The Rebbe was negating the idea that Rashbi passed on as one of true 24,000 students, which of course wouldn’t make historical sense. However I always understood that Rashbi passed away on Lag Baomer many years later, which The Rebbe doesn’t address there- he simply leaves it open ended by calling it his day Of celebration- which can be a euphemism for passing, or not.

    #2185154
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Cs,

    The letter discusses how it is from a mistaken edition of the Eitz Chaim. This has been noted by many, including the Chida. As to which day he did indeed die, it is entirely an unknown.

    #2185548
    CS
    Participant

    👍🏻

    #2185658
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >n0mesora: “The Rebbe was adamant that lag baomer was not the day rashbi died.”

    Sorry, במכ”ת this statement is laughable for anyone who glanced at any of the Rebbe’s hundreds of Lag Baomer sichos and letters. You completely misunderstood the Rebbe’s letter.

    The Rebbe is only commenting that Rashbi couldn’t have died together with the students of Rabbi Akiva.

    The Rebbe stated COUNTLESS times that Lag Baomer is the day of Rashbi’s passing.

    Here is one example (among many) from a letter that the Rebbe wrote TWO YEARS after the aforementioned letter to Rabbi Zevin (Pesach Sheini 5711):
    כמה טעמים נאמרו בשמחת ל”ג בעומר וחגיגתו. ואנו אין לנו אלא האמור בכתהאריז”ל ומובא בדא”ח, אשר יום זה הוא יום הסתלקותו של רבי שמעון בן יוחאי – הילולא דרבי שמעון

    The Rebbe attaches several sources (also makes mention of aforementioned Chida).
    See original letter here:
    https://beta.hebrewbooks.org/reader/reader.aspx?sfid=15951#p=300&fitMode=fitwidth&hlts=&ocr=

    #2185668
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    n0mesorah,

    Additionally, you seem to be מדייק in the word “Rejoicing of Rashbi” in the Rebbe’s letter.
    This was not the Rebbe’s words (it’s a translation). The Rebbe wrote “הילולא דרשב”י” – which he always uses to describe passing. The yahrzeits of the Chabad rabbeim are often referred to as יום הילולא.

    This is taken from the term which the Zohar uses about the passing of Rashbi: ואתכנשו להילולא דרבי שמעון (Zohar Idrah Zutah 296b).

    #2185882
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Menachem,

    The section of Kisvei HaAri that the letter quotes is the same section that has the erroneous passage discussed in the letter to Rav Zevin. Why the Rebbe chose to keep this myth somewhat intact, is a mystery. But his intent is clear. He is associating the day with Penmius HaTorah, as opposed to just the day Rebi Shimon died. Why there is a day for Penimius HaTorah is beyond my understandind. And I wonder if he really believed it to be. What the Rebbe is really asking for, is that we all commit to understanding chassidus and bringing it into reality.

    #2185977
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    >I wonder if he really believed it to be.

    The arrogance of ignorance

    (Please state your own opinions. No need to claim the Rebbe supports your claims. If you really care to know the Rebbe’s opinion, you’re going to have to look at a lot more than one translated letter. The Rebbe has THOUSANDS of pages on Lag Beomer. See his opinion for yourself)

    #2185988
    AviraDeArah
    Participant

    Menachem, the word hilula is used by large swaths of klal yisroel to refer to the yahrtzeit of any tzadik, based on the lashon of the zohar; it’s not only in chabad.

    I agree that the Lubavitcher rebbe never said that lag baomer is not the yahrtzeit of rebbe shimon; some simply enjoy stating contrarian opinions nonchalantly, and then reveling in the resultant fallout.

    #2185991
    Menachem Shmei
    Participant

    Avira: “it’s not only in chabad”

    Yes, I am aware this. I was specifically addressing n0mesorah’s supposed diyuk in the Rebbe’s lashon.

    >”Some simply enjoy…”
    Well said.

    #2185992
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Menachem,

    I’m aware. Some of these letters are right before the letter to Rav Zevim. (My chakira is, was the Rebbe saying that this is the way it was, or the way it should have been. Of course he is saying that now it is that way. But he didn’t have a clear way of demonstrating it. If he did, he would have told it to Rav Zevin at the very least.) The Rebbe knew about the misprint, is my only point.

    #2185993
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Avira,

    is it the day Rav Shimon שמת = died?
    Or the day he שמח = rejoiced?

    The Chida already pointed out that it has to be the latter. When he actually died is unknown.

    #2186770
    ChatGPT
    Participant

    Lag BaOmer, oh joyous day!
    When bonfires light the night away,
    And mystic teachings shine so bright,
    Revealing secrets of delight.

    Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai,
    Whose wisdom lights up every sky,
    On this day, his spirit soars,
    And his teachings reach new shores.

    The Zohar, his holy tome,
    Illuminates our path to roam,
    Guiding us through life’s dark haze,
    With wisdom from the ancient days.

    As bonfires light the night so bright,
    Our souls take flight, reaching new heights,
    With brotherhood and unity,
    In prayer and study, we find beauty.

    Oh Lag BaOmer, teach us true,
    To love our fellow, to pursue,
    A life of righteousness and grace,
    And find in Torah, our rightful place.

    Let us dance and sing with glee,
    Inspiring others to be free,
    To celebrate the joy of life,
    And overcome all pain and strife.

    Lag BaOmer, oh joyous day!
    May your light forever stay,
    And may we be inspired anew,
    To live a life that’s pure and true.

    #2186858
    Reb Eliezer
    Participant

    I would make one change, to love our fellow Jew to pursue.

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