By the Grace of G-dErev Lag B'Omer - ErevShabbos-Kodesh, 5734Brooklyn N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

Well known, and explained in various sources¹, are the reasons which give the day of Lag B’Omer its special distinction², importance and significance,

In regard to all of which reasons we may apply the rule of our Sages³, ”These as well as those are the words of the Living G-d"; a rule which is valid even where there is a difference between them. How much more so in an area where it can be said, "One master said one thing, and one master said another, and they do not differ."

To begin with, there is the reason cited in the Shulchan Aruch⁴ (which is a Code of laws for actual practice), to the effect that on that day (Lag B’Omer) the death toll of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples came to an end (which is a passive reason, not involving action; merely the end of a calamity).

At the other end, Lag B’Omer is noted as the day of great joy⁵, for Rabbi Shimon ben Yochoi (RaShBY) - his demise and ascent to heaven, and, in his words⁶: "This is a day of fulfillment (of a verse) ..my soul being united with Him, kindled in Him, absorbed in Him.."

So great was the joy, that it became a day of rejoicing for all Jews, for whom it became ״a Mitzva to rejoice with RaShBY’s joy⁷," with the omission of Tachnun, etc.

There is an obvious correlation and connection between the said two aspects of Lag B’Omer. For after most of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples had died, RaShBY was one of the very few who remained and restored the desolate world; the one and distinguished one among them, as attested to by Rabbi Akiva, the teacher of all those disciples, who said to him: "Be satisfied that I and Your Creator recognize your worth¹⁰,"

And it was RaShBY who declared, "I am willing and able to absolve the whole world from judgment, from the day I was created to this moment¹¹ - counter to, and in rectification of, the conduct of those disciples who had failed to respect one another¹² (thus bringing down upon themselves Divine judgment).

Now, as in the case of all days of remembrance in our Torah, Toras Chayim ("instruction in life") - it calls for reflection on the significance of Lag B’Omer, in a manner of learning that leads to action.

RaShBY signifies¹³, among other things, a) a person ”whose study of Torah is his vocation¹⁴,” and b) one whose Ahavas Yisroel embraces the ”whole world,” every Jew in whatever situation he may find himself, including one who faces Divine judgment and needs to be absolved from it.

To be sure, which person can approach the category of RaShBY and his colleagues¹⁵, ”men that Torah study was their vocation?!” However, everyone can set fixed times for Torah study, so that at such times one’s learning attains the quality of one whose Torah study is his vocation, to the exclusion of all else.

It follows, and it is hoped, that the auspicious day of Lag B’Omer will inspire and give every Jew the quality and power to set fixed periods of Torah study every day in a way that will make Torah his vocation. And one who already has such fixed periods of study - will increase and double it¹⁷, in keeping with the saying of our Sages, ”He who has one hundred, desires two hundred¹⁸,” etc. Fixed periods both for individual study and for group study. And in the spirit of boundless Ahavas Yisroel, one will do everything possible to encourage other Jews, in all parts of the world, to do likewise: to set for themselves fixed periods for such Torah study, and induce others in their environment to follow their example.

* * *

The above has a special bearing on our present age¹⁹ of utter confusion, etc., when, despite the fact that the darkness and servitude of these Golus days are so plain to see, there are those who call this darkness light, etc.

But ”there is no salvation for us except this Torah²⁰,” Toras Emes and Torah Or - to light up the darkness of the bitter Golus with the true light of Torah in ever growing illumination; to light it up - With the light of the revealed Torah²¹ (Nigleh) - in which RaShBY excelled to such a degree as to give 24 answers to every difficulty²² etc.

And with the light of the Inner Torah (Pnimius) - which is ”your (RaShBY’s) treatise²³”, as the Prophet Elijah is quoted in the Zohar encouraged by Moshe Rabbenu, the Faithful Shepherd of each and every Jew and Jewess in all ages, ”who will be nourished by (the true interpretation of the teaching of) this your treatise, when it will be revealed below in the end of days,” and bring about the fulfillment of the words, ”And you shall proclaim liberty in the land,” as foretold by the Prophet Elijah;

And, similarly, following in the footsteps of RaShBY who achieved oneness with G-d, etc., as above.

Of course, no one can dare approach and compare to him,²⁵ but after "RaShBY opened²⁶” this way, and his teachings were transmitted and revealed in the Torah, it has been made accessible, though in a minute measure, and made relevant to each and every Jew. Especially in light of what David, the Sweetener of the Songs of Israel, had said in behalf of all Jews and every Jew: ”Whom else have I in heaven, and with You I desire nothing on earth; my flesh and my heart go out to You, O G-d, Rock of my heart and my portion for ever²⁷.”

May we also see the fulfillment of the allusion²⁸ in the saying of our Sages that ”Rabbi Shimon is worthy to be relied upon in a time of emergency²⁹," that in the present emergency for Jews, for the individual³⁰ as well as for the nation (and the emergency is very evident at present), RaShBY may be relied upon to absolve the whole world from judgment, and is indeed so relied upon,

To achieve liberation and freedom on the personal level, in terms of true freedom that comes through occupation with Torah study³¹,

And from the redemption of the individual to the true and complete redemption of all our Jewish people from the Golus, mercifully³², through our righteous Moshiach.

May G-d grant that all the above should be ”with great joy,” and in our time, to quote our Sages, ”..they are redeemed immediately³³.” ; ־

With blessing for much Hatzlocho in all above mentioned,

And with blessing for good tidings,

/Signed: Menachem Schneerson/