For 12 years, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi) and his son Elazar dwelt in the cave, sustaining themselves on carobs and water. In the cave, Rabbi Shimon learned to look at the world in even the most physical and coarse places and still find Hashem and His Goodness within. For, the physicality itself is really hidden, latent spirituality. By coming to this realization, Rashbi was thus zocheh to reveal Hashem in every aspect of creation (the good and the bad) through the mystical teachings contained in the Zohar. He came to a place of shalom between him, those around him, and His Creator, and thereby became the conduit of shalom into the world. I’ve heard it said that when someone learns the Zohar properly, all questions fall away.
This is an important lesson. We all have areas within ourselves and our lives that may be bitter, coarse, and unpleasant. We are all surrounded by others who also possess their own flaws and faults. We may at times be on the ground, overwhelmed with feelings of depression, anger, anxiety, or fear. These experiences have a purpose: to eventually expose the light of Hashem that they conceal. In other words, they aren’t meant to be ignored or thrown away; they are a source of light in potential. We are put in this world to use every single part of our being for the service of Hashem – the areas where we are connected to Hashem together with the areas where we are still struggling to achieve that connection. If we leave parts of ourselves or our experiences out by ignoring them, denying that they exist, or by actively refusing to work on them, then we simultaneously cut ourselves off from the very light that we are meant to shine into the world.
It’s a s’gulah on Lag BaOmer to yearn that our eyes be opened to this truth. Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Frierdiker Chabad Rebbe, brings the following pasuk: “Uncover my eyes and I shall look at hidden things from Your Torah” (T’hilim 119:18). He notes that the word “gal” is composed of the same letters as “Lag.” Lag BaOmer has the power to reveal the truth and the specific light concealed within ourselves, those around us, and the world at large.
Interestingly, the neshamah is compared to a flame, as it says, “The soul of man is a candle of G-d” (Proverbs 20:27). Just as a flame continually moves upwards, toward Heaven, so too the soul struggles to reconnect with its Creator. Just as the flame’s essential purpose is to dispel the darkness and enable us to see the way, so too the soul shows the body in what direction to go, how to act, and what its true mission in life is. The real madurah of Lag BaOmer is thus really within us – our inner yearning to see the good within ourselves, others, and the world, to shine this light out, dispel the darkness, and enable us to see the way. May we all be zocheh to receive the light of Rabbi Shimon and Lag BaOmer!
(Material was previously published on www.ShiratMiriam.com.)
List of People Who Need
a R’fuah Sh’leimah
(a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida
Alter Shmuel ben Chavah Leah
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Chaim ben Malkah
Yehudah Yudel ben Miriam Gittel
David ben Rachel
Yisrael Zundel ben Miriam
Steven David ben Violette
Baruch Avraham ben Helen
Shimon ben Sarah
Yaakov Dov ben Priva
David Yosef Elimelech ben Elisheva Hinda
Yisachar David ben Chayah Brachah
Matisyahu Yeshayahu ben Chanah Chinka
Ariel Shmuel ben Leah
Yonah Gedaliah ben Pesha
Nasan ben Naamah
Alan ben Leah Angela
Yehoshua ben Miriam
Tzvi ben Miriam Rachel
Dov ben Leah
Avraham Zev ben Sarah
Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel ben Lishel
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Chayah Shoshanah Tovah bas Esther
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Malkah bas Allegre
Gittel bas Sarah
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Perel bas Nechamah
Mechelina Simchah bas Rinah
Rachel Leah bas Sarah
Tehillah Hadassah bas Elanah
Rachel Leah bas Sarah
Hadas bas Ora
Yael bas Ruth
Esther bas Nacha
Orana bas Suzan
Chavah Leah bas Esther
Mazal bas Malkah
Shirah bas Devorah Leah
Miriam bas Rachel
Julie Neshla bas Jamileh
Chavah Leah bas Esther
Dinah bas Yocheved
Elisheva bas Miriam
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
