After an inspiring davening and a delicious Israeli breakfast (wow!!), it was off to Meron for our travelers. Our first stop was the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. What better way to prepare for Lag B’Omer next week than praying at this holy site. Lag B’Omer is the yartzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. We noticed lots of activity as we approached. The people are preparing for the thousands of visitors who will be coming next week.
Nitzan shared with us the history of the time period of Jewish History. The land at this time was under the rule of the Romans after they destroyed the 2nd Temple. Life was not easy as the Romans wanted to outlaw many Jewish laws. There was even a rabbi who talked of the wonderful advancements that the Romans made in architecture, roads and bridges. Rabi Shimon bar Yochai reminded him that all of these advancements were at the expense of Judaism thriving. Just making these anti-Roman statements were enough for him to receive a death sentence on his head.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai went into hiding with his son in a cave. For 12 years they lived on carob, stream water and studied Torah. They were so immersed in Torah that when they left, these 2 holy men “forgot” that most people need to work and serve Hashem. It was dangerous to have them around, since they were so holy that they were literally lighting up all matters that were not spiritual.
Back to the cave they went for another year in order for their re-entry to be safe. So, in all Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son where in the cave for 13 years. The number 13 is a significant number. It is numerically equal to the word אהבה the Hebrew word for love. א = 1 ה=5 ב= 2 ה = 5
These 2 great rabbis needed a total of 13 years to work on their love of others and how bringing people closer to G-d and Torah is through working the physical. Now, rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was the famous rabbi who wrote the Zohar, a book of mysticism. He gave us a gift from which the Kabbalists and Chassidus would thrive. More on that topic in Tzefat.
Underneath where the Rashbi is buried you will find the resting site of Hillel, the famous Hillel from the seder. It was fascinating to see how Jews were buried during the 2nd Temple Era. It was usual for family members to be buried together in one area.