Visiting Rebbe Meir Is the Best Preparation For Lag B’Omer

Okay, dear friends, here's a part two of our sheer room for today. And we're continuing on the theme of this is man of the year, namely this time of the year, Pesach Sheni and Lag B'Omer is bound and deeply tied to two great Tanaim, Reb Meir Baal Haness and the Rashbi, Reb Shimon bar Yochai. On that note, make sure you're prepared for Lag B'Omer with the safer, Lag B'Omer, The Fire in the Soul. But, as we're going to see, Reb Meir Baal Haness is a very important preparation for Lag B'Omer. So, we have to en- enhance your preparations for Lag B'Omer and for Pesach Sheni, the safer Lakol Demaranan in Lashon Hakodesh, it's available on our site, rabbidg.com. It's available in multiple languages, published by Artscroll in English, Reb Meir Baal Haness and the eternal children of Hashem. It's available in Spanish, in Yiddish, and this week, for the first time, in pocket size. And now let's delve into the connection between Reb Meir and Lag B'Omer. What does Reb Meir got to do with Lag B'Omer? As mentioned, the Ben Ish Hai wrote a safer that's called Hilula Rabba. He actually wrote it anonymously, but we know that he's the author of the safer. In Hilula Rabba, the uh Ben Ish Hai gathered ma'amarim about the shvachim of the Rashbi to say on uh Lag B'Omer. Actually, in the Hebrew safer Lakol Demaranan, there's another safer that the Ben Ish Hai wrote. >> [snorts] >> It's called Meir Bas Ayin, which speaks about the praise of Reb Meir Baal Haness. But, uh the Ben Ish Hai also wrote a safer called Hilula Rabba. And in Hilula Rabba, the Ben Ish Hai gathered all the praises of the Rashbi to recite on Lag B'Omer. And at the at the end of the safer, the Ben Ish Hai compiled something called Sodois U'Remazim Al HaRashbi, Secrets and Allusions to the Rashbi. And with in the words of the Ben Ish Hai, he explains why the students of Rebbi Akiva died during the time of the year of Sefiras HaOmer and [snorts] why they stopped dying on Lag B'Omer. And basically, the Ben Ish Hai says as follows, the days of Sefirah are days of Middas Hadin. The days of Sefirah are connected with the Middas Hadin. This is an idea that's rooted in the Rishonim. The Rishonim even say one of the reasons why we don't make a Shehechiyanu uh on the start of Sefiras HaOmer is because Sefiras HaOmer is a time of Din even before the students of Rebbi Akiva passed away. In other words, the time of Sefiras HaOmer being a time of Din predates the petirah of the students of Rebbi Akiva. And the reason why the students of Rebbi Akiva passed away during this time is because this time of the year is connected with Middas Hadin. So, the Ben Ish Hai says as follows, the name of Hashem associated with Middas Hadin is Elohim. Elohim. And the Ben Ish Hai says that the way we're mamtik the middah the Middas Hadin, the way we're mamtik the Middas Hadin, the way we sweeten it, is we take the five letters Elohim and we use Otiyos Kodmos, the letters that precede the five letters of Elohim. Listen very carefully. Well, before the letter Aleph, there's an Aleph. Nothing is uh nothing comes before the Aleph, so the Aleph remains an Aleph. Before the Lamed, we create a Chaf. Before the Heh, we make a Dalet. Before the Yud, we make a Tes. And before the final Mem, we make a regular regular Mem. So, Aleph, Lamed, Heh, Yud, final Mem becomes Aleph, then Chaf, then Dalet, then Tes, then a Mem. The gematria of 86, Middas Hadin, Elohim, becomes 74. That's Bit'chu Bashem Adei Ad. 86 becomes 74. Oh. Now, says the Ben Ish Hai, but the Aleph becoming an Aleph is not a major change. And the final Mem becoming a regular Mem is not a major change. The real transformation is the Lamed, Heh, Yud. The Lamed, Heh, Yud becomes Chaf, Dalet, Tes. Lamed, Heh, Yud, 45, becomes Chaf, Dalet, Tes, 33. The main transformation of Middas Hadin is when 45 becomes 33. By the way, in the English safer on Lag B'Omer, B'Siyata Dishmaya, we pointed out that when the tragedy happened in Meron on that ominous Lag B'Omer, do you know how many Yidden were killed on that day? Unfortunately, unfortunately, 45 Yidden were killed on that day. Is there a significance to that number? Yes, unfortunately, there is a significance. You see, the main task of Lag B'Omer is to take Lamed, Heh, Yud, 45, and to transform it into 33. Actually, we bring this in the English safer on page 97. But, if the if Lag B'Omer is not celebrated, in other words, if Lag B'Omer is somehow not Nirtzah Bashamayim, then the number 33, which is Middas Harachamim, turns into Din, 45. And unfortunately, we had 45 korbanos on that fateful Lag B'Omer. >> [snorts] >> But, in any event, says the Ben Ish Hai, and he's not this is not his own original insight, >> [snorts] >> it comes from the safer Pri Eitz Chaim, says the Ben Ish Hai, that the main Mituk Hadin, the main Hamtakas Hadinim, is on the 33rd day of the Omer. On the 33rd day of the Omer, the the Lamed, Heh, Yud became Chaf, Dalet, Tes, and that's why the students of Rebbi Akiva stopped dying. The Ben Ish Hai continues that since on Lag B'Omer the students of Rebbi Akiva were preserved, therefore, it's not only a joy for the Rashbi, but it's a joy for Rebbi Akiva and all of his talmidim. And then the Ben Ish Hai says as follows, that the five talmidim of Rebbi Akiva, Reb Meir, Rebbi Yehudah, Rebbi Yosi, Rebbi Shimon, Rebbi Elazar, they are connected with the five letters, Aleph, Chaf, Dal- Aleph, Chaf, Tes, Dalet, Mem. You hear this? Aleph, Chaf, Dalet, Tes, Mem. The five students of Rebbi Akiva that rebuilt the Torah are connected with the five letters of Rachamim, Aleph, Chaf, Dalet, Tes, Mem. Therefore, this day, where the Middas Hadin was transformed into Middas Harachamim, is a joy for all of Rebbi Akiva's talmidim. And therefore, says the Ben Ish Hai, you should go to all of their kivarim. You should go to Rebbi Akiva. You should go to Rebbi Meir. The Yoshvei Tzafas should go to Rebbi Yehudah bar Ilai. So, from here we learn, friends, that Lag B'Omer is a Yom Simcha not only for Reb Shimon bar Yochai, but it's also a Yom Simcha for Reb Meir. And now let's try to explain the connection between Reb Meir and Lag B'Omer. Now, we also mentioned that Minhag Yisrael is to commemorate and celebrate the life of Reb Meir four days before, on Yud Dalet Iyar. And we also mentioned that there's actually no clear tradition that Pesach Sheni is the Yahrtzeit of Reb Meir. Says Reb Mordechai Uri Halevi Engelman in the safer Kol HaChai, that the 14th day of Iyar, Pesach Sheni, which is connected to the Yom Hilula of Reb Meir, it's not actually the day he passed away. But, since people were in the vicinity for Lag B'Omer, which was on Yud Ches, and they were passing by Tiveria, so they said, "You know what? While you're on the way to the Rashbi, stop off in Tiveria and celebrate Reb Meir." After all, Reb Meir was also one of the talmidim of Rebbi Akiva, who also survived the gezeirah. That means that technically, Pesach Sheni has no no connection to the petirah of Reb Meir, but it sort of developed, like we mentioned in the previous shiur, to go up to Tziyon on that on that day. And there must be some deep reason, and we provided one reason in the previous shiur of the connection between the life of Reb Meir and Pesach Sheini, but there must be a connection between Reb Meir and the preparation for Lag BaOmer, chabalin l'tayva. Somehow, visiting the Tanna Elaki Reb Meir is a appropriate preparation for the Yom Tov of Lag BaOmer. So, we would like to explain as follows. There's a Zohar in next week's parsha, in parshas Behar. We know that sometimes Klal Yisrael are called banim and sometimes we're called avadim. Says the Zohar, "Betrein zinin ikrun Yisrael l'Kudsha Brichu." In two different ways we are called and we are connected to Hashem. We're called avadai hem and we're called banim. When are we called avadim and when we're called banim? Says the Zohar, "B'zmana d'yada lei bar nasha l'Kudsha Brichu b'eil klal." When we know Hashem in a general sense, we know, okay, you get up in the morning, you wash negel vasser, you get dressed, you wash netilas yadayim, you say birkas hashachar, you daven shacharis, you put on tefillin, you eat breakfast, you go to work, you learn in the morning, you learn at night, you do the mitzvahs. When you know Hashem in a general sense, you're called an eved. And if you're an eved, you don't have permission to search and investigate the secrets of the house. But when you know Hashem specifically, you're called a beloved child and a child could investigate and and probe and search and plumb the depths and the secrets of the house. So, the the Zohar Hakadosh is saying that the title eved is worthy for someone who recognizes Hashem in general and the title ben is which reflects Hashem's love for us, is designated for someone who knows Hashem specifically. And the Zohar Hakadosh says, "Zaka chulke d'hai ben." Fortunate is the chelek of that son. "D'zachi l'ishtadla l'minda b'ginzei d'avoi." That he is zocheh to make efforts to know the treasures of his father. "U'v'chol razin d'veisa." And all the secrets of his house. "K'vara yechida'i d'ishtaltei avoi b'chol ginzei." Like an only child that the father gives him dominion over all of his secrets. "V'da ihu y'kara." This [snorts] is his honor. "D'shalt al kol man d'ishtadel b'Oraisa." That rules over those who make efforts in Torah. "L'minda l'Kudsha Brichu." To know Hakadosh Baruch Hu, to know his secrets. Someone who makes efforts to know the secrets of Hashem is called a ben. And none of the heavenly angels could protest allowing him entry to his father. "Fortunate is his chelek in all the ilamois." And >> [clears throat] >> someone who tries to know Hashem in a very detailed way, to know the secrets of Hashem, is called a ben ta Kudsha Brichu. In fact, Reb Chaim Palagi writes in the sefer Nefesh HaChaim, "Learning the secrets of the Torah demonstrate that we are banim l'Makom." Says the Reb Chaim Palagi, "Misha chanoina Hashem u'vol l'midei b'sodei Hashem." Someone who Hashem has endowed them to know the secrets of the Torah, he is in the b'china of a ben ta Kudsha Brichu. Furthermore, we find that Reb Shimon bar Yochai, on the day of his petira, he composed the chelek of the Zohar called the Idra. And he appointed his student he appointed each one of his students on a specific task. And what did he appoint Rebbi Abba? He said, "Rebbi Abba, yichtaiv." "Rebbi Elazar, b'rei Yochai, u'shachvar avoi u'rachshan b'libaihu." Why was Rebbi Abba chosen to be the preserver and the recorder of the secrets of the Torah? So, says Reb Engelman, "Since the Zohar says that in order to know the secrets of the Torah, you need to be a ben. Therefore, it was worthy to give over these secrets to Rebbi Abba. Rebbi Abba is the quintessential Abba. He's the father. So, who better than a father should give over to Klal Yisrael those secrets that give us the title ben? If learning the secrets of the Zohar establish us as banim l'Makom, so who better than the Abba, Rebbi Abba? Rebbi Abba is well equipped. His name signifies that he is the appropriate personality to bestow upon Klal Yisrael the status of banim l'Makom." You know, the Gemara says that Reb Shimon bar Yochai said, "I could exempt the whole world from midas hadin from the day I was created until now. Reb And he said, "And with Reb Elazar, my son, from the day the world was created until now." What is the special koach of the Rashbi that he could exempt the whole world from midas hadin? So, the Maharsha says that Reb Shimon bar Yochai was a baal yisurim rabim. He had a lot of afflictions. Therefore, with his tzaar, he could exempt the whole world from midas hadin. But the sefer Kol HaChai explains it in a little bit of a different fashion. That since the Rashbi taught Klal Yisrael the secrets of the Torah, that through the secrets of the Torah we're called banim l'Makom, and once we're banim l'Makom, so now Hashem is meracheim on us, k'racheim av al banim. So, Reb Shimon had the capacity to exempt the whole world from midas hadin because through us we're called banim l'Makom and we're zocheh to great rachamim from Avinu Shebashamayim. Well, based on this, the sefer Kol HaChai explains the reason for the minhag Yisrael to go up to the kever of Reb Meir Baal HaNess on Pesach Sheini, a few days before the yardzeit of the Rashbi. He says, "Since Reb Meir is the mara d'ashmaisa, avain kach avain kach k'ruyin banim." Reb Meir is the master. Reb Meir is the baal hamemra. That we're always the beloved children of Hashem. Even when we're in oisin l'tzan'a shel Makom, we're the beloved children of Hashem. Well, learning the secrets of the Torah are only authorized because we're banim l'Makom. Like the Zohar says, only a ben is authorized to learn the secrets of the of the Zohar and the Torah. Therefore, the proper introduction and preparation for Lag BaOmer, when we connect with the Rashbi and all of the secrets that the Rashbi taught, is first we need to go up on Pesach Sheini to Reb Meir to establish our credentials as banim l'Makom. And once we've established our credentials as banim l'Makom on Pesach Sheini, now we're prepared to go up on Lag BaOmer and take advantage of our credentials and engage in learning the secrets of the Torah. By the way, which is another reason Um by the way, Reb Engelman says in the sefer Kol HaChai Kol HaChai that since Reb Meir and Reb Shimon together, actually, he says, "Both Reb Meir and Reb Shimon together teach us that we're banim l'Makom. And through them, through Reb Meir, we're worthy to be redeemed. You know, it's very interesting that uh the the rashei teivos of Ruach Apeinu Mashiach Hashem Ruach Apeinu Mashiach Hashem is Meir. Why is Reb Meir? How is he connected with Mashiach? Because the Zohar teaches that the prerequisite for the coming of Mashiach is when Klal Yisrael begin to taste from the fruits of the Zohar Hakadosh. The Zohar famously says in parshas Naso, "U'v'gin da'asidin Yisrael l'mitaam mei'ilanei d'chayei, d'ihu hai seifer haZohar, yifkun beih min galusa b'rachamei." In the future, the Jewish people are destined to taste from the tree of life, which is the Zohar, they'll be redeemed from galus in mercy. That the prerequisite of the coming of the Geulah is we have to at least taste from the fruits of the Zohar Hakadosh. Who enables us to learn the secrets of the Torah? It's only Reb Meir. We have to be banim l'Makom to learn the secrets of the Torah. So, then we understand why the word Meir is rashei teivos Ruach Apeinu Mashiach Hashem. After all, why would Reb Meir be connected with Mashiach? Reb Meir comes from Eisav. Reb Meir comes from Rome. How could he be connected to the Mashiach? The answer is through Reb Meir. That we're always considered the beloved children of Hashem, so we have the credentials necessary to be able to learn the secrets of the Torah and that's a prerequisite for the coming of the Geulah like the Zohar says, "U'v'gin da'asidin Yisrael l'mitaam mei'ilanei d'chayei, d'ihu hai seifer haZohar, yifkun >> So it comes out that we will be redeemed in the merit of the secrets of the Torah. And since is the opinion and the establishes our status as a home will come to a mayor. So this Engelman explains is why it's an appropriate introduction to First we go up to a mayor on Shani to establish ourselves as bottom and then we're prepared to visit the on Lag B'Omer. But we brought earlier the words of the sky that on Lag B'Omer as well we should visit a mayor because even a mayor rejoices on Lag B'Omer. And based on what we have presented we can appreciate a new flavor of the words of the sky. Why does a mayor rejoice on Lag B'Omer? Cuz a mayor is also deeply connected to Lag B'Omer. A mayor is a town who taught how to clean bottom. There is no sin in the world that could uproot us from our and dear mentor and since learning the secrets of the Torah that were revealed from Shimon is contingent upon our status of being bottom. Therefore Lag B'Omer which is the yard side of the is also the Simcha of none other than a mayor and this a mayor also rejoices on Lag B'Omer because Lag B'Omer the day that we engage in the secrets of the Torah we all come to rely and nourish from the great sheet of a mayor who holds bank account or bank account the crime bottom. Okay friends, there's a few thoughts of Pesach Shani the of the mayor Lag B'Omer of the have a good with a lot of fun. Have a great day everyone. Have a lot of fun. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Is it possible to have the call on me? Thank you.