Lag B'Omer is a significant day on the Jewish calendar and and by Hasidim it is enthusiastically observed. People will light bonfires and sing the praises of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
The counting of the Omer is the period between Passover and Shavuos. An omer (עומר) is a bundle of grain. On the second day of Passover an omer of barley is offered in the Temple on Shavuos two loaves of bread made from fine wheat are offered. It is a mitzvah to count the 49 days from Passover to Shavuos, hence the term "counting of the Omer".
Originally the days of the omer were considered happy. But, because a plague struck the students of Rabbi Akiva during this time there is an aspect of mourning associated with them now. The plague ended on the thirty third day of the omer therefore the laws of mourning end on that day and the day itself is considered a festival. At the time Rabbi Akiva, who was relatively young, had 24,000 students, but none of them were successful. As an old man he had a handful of students: Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda, and Rabbi Yosi, and the Talmud mentions them constantly.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is considered the giant of the Gemara, plus he was the redactor of the major work of the Jewish mysticism, the Zohar. זוֹהֵר means radiant and because of the radiance of Rabbi Shimon's Torah it is customary to light bonfires on Lag B'Omer and sing his praises. A popular one, simply called "bar Yochai" spells out his name the through the first letter of each stanza. It is rich in imagery and has many metaphors from Jewish mysticism.
The first stanza praises him for his holiness and compares him to the high priest. Of all the sages of the Gemara, Rabbi Shimon is accredited with being the biggest expert in the Chumash and this seems to be his source of sanctity. The second stanza focuses on his hiding out in a cave from the Romans. It calls it a goodly dwelling (מוֹשַׁב טוֹב) and says that it was there that he acquired his prestige and splendor. It would seem that through his adversity, he gained greatness. After that various aspects of his personality, particularly his intellect are developed. The Temple, Cohen Gadol, and light are frequent metaphors.
The stanza associated with beauty (תפארת), using a Kabbalistic allusion, places him in a field of apple trees where he can pick fragrant spices. In it the secrets of Torah are as available as flowers and wild plants. Rabbi Shimon is praised by saying, "let us make a man" was said because of him. Other verses mention his high insights and their development. He is elevated to the stars specifically crowning Ursa major (the Big Bear including the north star) and facing Leo the lion. He is also reckoned a powerful warrior with his sword drawn towards his enemies.
The song ends with an epilogue. Happy is she who bore you. Happy is the nation that learns from you. Happy are those that delve into your secrets. They are clothed in your breastplate, honesty, and light (חשֶׁן תֻּמֶּיךָ וְאוּרֶיךָ).
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
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