Use Words with Care  

Remembering last year’s tragedy, my heart searches for words; I find myself writing with hope for joy and song as we once again approach Lag B’omer.

Let’s note that this day — now the anniversary of the death of so many — is a shared yahrtzeit with the Tanna Elokai Rabi Shimon bar Yochai.

Revealing Worlds

The Zohar Hakadosh tells us about Rabi Shimon bar Yochai’s last day. He gathered his friends, Rabi Yehuda, Rabi Yosi, Rabi Chiya, and Rabi Yitzchak.

As they assembled around his holy countenance, he declared, “Behold it is an eis ratzon. I would like to rise to the Upper World with no shame. The words of kedushah that I have not yet revealed to the world are waiting to be disseminated and discussed. I would like to disclose them now so that I do not arrive in the Next World not having given over what was my chelek in Torah that I was charged to pass on to the world.”