Reb Shimon Bar Yochai WHAT IS #HOLY

Reb Shlomo Carlebach ztl Reb #Shimon Bar #Yochai YOU KNOW WHAT #HOLY MEANS #shlomocarlebach #lagbaomer Every year on Lag #BaOmer (18 Iyar), we remember the great and holy Tanna (#Mishnaic sage) Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who died on this day about eighteen centuries ago. To this day, pious Jews make an annual pilgrimage to Kefar #Meron, in the Land of #Israel , to pray at the tomb of this great and holy scholar. A Student of Rabbi Akiva When Shimon was a young boy, he studied in the great academy of the scholars of Yavneh, founded by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, who died just about the time that Shimon was born. Shimon’s principal teacher was the famous Rabbi Akiva, who had his academy at Benei Berak. So attached did Shimon become to his master, Rabbi Akiva, that the latter called him “my son.” During the cruel persecution by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, when the Talmudic Academies were shut down and the study of the Talmud was forbidden on penalty of death, Rabbi Akiva continued to teach the Talmud publicly, and his devoted pupil Shimon stayed at his side, until Rabbi Akiva was arrested. Even then, Shimon continued to visit his master in prison to receive instruction there. Only death finally separated them, for Rabbi Akiva was condemned to die a martyr’s death for Kiddush Hashem (the sanctification of G‑d’s name).