Lag B’Omer Reflections: To Illuminate the Darkness

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

Pesach marks the time of redemption from the slavery in Egypt; Shavuos marks the time when the Torah was given. The days of counting between Pesach and Shavuos are days of transition between freedom and what exactly what we intend to do with that freedom. The goal each year is to arrive at Shavuos with the perspective that our freedom shall be channeled to Torah- To exercise our freedom through moral and noble choices.  Remarkably, this time of the Omer is associated with two great heroes of the Jewish people: Rabbi Akiva, and his student Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoie.

The tragedy that occurred to Rabbi Akiva during this time is well known. Rabbi Akiva established a network of students through whom he planned to reinvigorate the Jewish people during that generation after the second Beis Hamikdash was destroyed. But his network of thousands of students was killed out in a plague during this time. Although Rabbi Akiva undoubtedly was shaken by the loss, he tried again, this time with just a handful of students, to train the leaders of the next generation. Rabbi Akiva’s fortitude became a beacon for all time of how much can be accomplished even in the midst of sorrow, by a person who does not allow himself to be broken. “Rabbi Akiva laughed,” is the way the Talmud records the legacy of this great Jew. Rabbi Akiva was able to discover the positive, and the opportunity,  even in times of challenge.

One of the great men in this second group of Rabbi Akiva’s students was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoie. An expert in the more hidden parts of Torah (Kabbalah) Rabbi Shimon had to hide for many years from the Romans. After finally emerging from hiding and having a long and distinguished career of teaching Torah and advocating for the Jewish people, Rabbi Shimon gathered his students on Lag B’Omer, and declared that this day- which is the day he would die- shall be viewed as a holiday. It was on this day that he completed his distinguished career as a teacher and revealed many secrets of Torah to his students. Rabbi Shimon did not see his dying day as one of sadness. He saw it as the great culmination of his Rebbe’s work to rebuild the Jewish people despite the trying times.

It is not surprising that Lag B’Omer is associated with lighting bonfires in the darkness. As one stands by the glowing embers one realizes the power of light to dispel darkness. There is a certain serenity to standing next to the fire that illuminates the darkness.

Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon lived in challenging times. It was a time of Roman persecution, a time that plague wiped out a cadre of elite students. The Omer count is associated with mourning to commemorate this painful time. But it is also associated with a sense of unbridled joy when we commemorate Lag B’Omer and realize the power of a Jew who continues to illuminate the world despite the darkness.

© 2016 by TEACH613™