History, Stories, Of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochaii, By Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, 5766

Description

This Tanna has a Yom Tov (holiday) all his own that all Yidden keep. The question is (still) only why (exactly). 1. RaShBI (5766). The Tzaddik who insisted his histalkus (passing) be a great joy and merited to have his desire continued for nearly two millenium. Some details about this extraordinary Tanna based on a series of Maamrei ChaZal. This class blends together history, stories and detailed references to the RaShBi’s Torah. Note: Thank you to a listener for sending in the following helpful comments. 1. It was not Choni HaMaagel whose house collapsed. The Gemara in Ta’anis tells this story about Nachum Ish Gam Zu. He was blind lacking hands and feet, covered in boils, lying in a ruinous house, with his bed placed in water-jugs to prevent ants reaching him. His students wanted to rescue him from the house and then his vessels. He told them to save the vessels first as it was his merit that was keeping it from collapsing. As soon as they took him out, the house collapsed. 2. Because R. Avrohom HaLevi said Nacheim on Lag BaOmer, his son (not he) died within the month.