בס"ד
Lag B’Omer is the day that the greatness of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (רבי שמעון בר יוחי) is remembered. He is reputed to be the compiler of the Zohar, a major work of Kabala. He is often reckoned as the greatest of the Talmudic sages and is credited with the best understanding of the Five Books of Moses. He was considered a genius and a miracle worker but his highest trait was purity of heart.
In his honor it is customary to make bonfires to emphasize the idea of brilliance. People will dance around the blaze and literally sing his praises. The song בַּר יוֹחַאי נִמְשַׁחְתָּ אַשְׁרֶיךָ (Bar Yochai Happy are those that Anointed You) spells out his name with the first letter of each stanza. The second popular song, וַאֲמַרְתֶּם כֹּה לֶחָי (They will say Congratulations) is an alphabetical acrostic.
There are many stories about Rabbi Shimon. The most famous is how he spent 12 years hiding in a cave with his son because he criticized the Romans. He said all of their public works was done for selfish reasons and for the needs of the body. During that time he lived on carobs. When the Rashbi emerged, he realized that he was special in that unlike others he could grab onto very lofty motives (see Gemara Shabbat 33b).
There is a debate between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon about the proper attitudes toward Torah study and livelihood. Rabbi Yishmael in essence says that a person should have a 9 to 5 job and a regular program of religious studies. About this Rabbi Shimon is says it's the wrong frame of mind. Rather a person should view Torah study and doing mitzvahs as his reason for existence. Therefore a person should not dedicate more attention to profession than other things necessary for survival like going shopping or to the doctor (see Gemara Brachot 35b).
It is brought in the Mechilta of Rabbi Yishmael (16:4) that R. Shimon b. Yochai was wont to say:
You can't expound the Torah unless you live on manna. What does this mean? He sits and he expounds. And he doesn't know from where he will eat and drink and from where he will dress and cover himself. Indeed the Torah was not given to expound except for those who eat manna and second to them, the poor clergymen. It comes out concerning money that Rabbi Shimon’s basic attitude is if you have enough to pay current expenses, you’re doing fine.
The book of Ecclesiastes (6:7) cynically states, "All of man’s earning is for the sake of his mouth, yet his soul is not sated". The idea is that people should be motivated by the intellect not by mere survival or physical pleasure. It seems that the difficulties from earning a livelihood stem from the curse of, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread", (Genesis 3:19). This is considered a curse because in the garden of Eden before the sin of Adam all of man's physical needs were easily satisfied. He didn't need to worry where his next meal was coming from as he could always pick it off of a tree. There are five words for soul in Hebrew (נפש, רוח, נשמה, חיה, יחידה) representing five levels. The second highest is חַיָה meaning life. The highest level is יחִידָה which is a form of the word unique. The hint is that the highest thing a person can do is develop the unique aspect of their soul. This is an aspect of their original insights into Torah. Therefore trusting in G-d and to not trust in wealth strengthens the ability to expound the Torah. The gemara states, "many did like Rabbi Yishmael and were successful, and many did like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and were unsuccessful", (Brachot 35b). The rabbis often comment that some were successful with the approach of Rabbi Shimon but this is an elite group of people.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
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