28 Apr LAG BAOMER: THE DAY OF BITAHON

Lag Ba’omer is
observed as the
“Hilula” of Rabbi
Shimon Bar Yohai,
following the view that
this marks the day of
his passing. Already the Arizal (Rav Yishak
Luria, 1534-1572) noted the custom to visit
Rabbi Shimon’s grave on Mount Meron in
northern Israel on this day.
The concept underlying the observance of a
“Hilula” is that we draw from the Kedusha of
the Sadik. A “Hilula” offers us the precious
opportunity to receive at least some of
the spiritual greatness of the giant whose
memory and whose soul we seek to connect
to and bond with. On Lag Ba’omer, we try
to connect to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai in
order to absorb some element of his unique,
outstanding qualities. It behooves us, then,
to learn some of what Rabbi Shimon stands
for, the particular Middot that he embodied,
so we can gain inspiration and develop these
qualities within ourselves.
The Gemara in Masechet Berachot (35b)
famously brings Rabbi Shimon’s view that
one should devote himself entirely to Torah
learning and rely on G-d to provide his
needs. This is in contrast to the opinion of
Rabbi Yishmael, that the proper approach is
“Hanheg Bahem Middat Derech Eretz” – to

live normally, to work for a living, while of
course setting aside significant amounts of
time for Torah study. The Gemara concludes
its discussion by noting, “Many acted in
accordance with Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai,
and did not succeed.” Meaning, for the
vast majority of people, Rabbi Shimon’s
approach is not appropriate; devoting oneself
exclusively to Torah, without pursuing a
livelihood, requires an exalted level of Bitahon
– trust in Hashem – that most people never
achieve. Rabbi Shimon’s view is not rejected,
but rather applicable only to the spiritual elite,
to those select individuals with wholehearted,
genuine faith in Hashem’s ability to provide.
It was this quality of Rabbi Shimon that
enabled him to live with his son for thirteen
years in a cave, without any food or water.
As the Gemara famously tells (Shabbat
33b), Rabbi Shimon fled from the Roman
authorities with his son, and they hid inside a
cave, where they were miraculously sustained
by a carob tree and brook of water. This was
Rabbi Shimon’s outstanding quality – absolute
faith in Hashem’s ability to provide, the keen
awareness that our sustenance depends solely
on G-d, and not on our hard work and efforts.
Accordingly, Lag Ba’omer is an occasion
for us to draw from Rabbi Shimon’s lofty
levels of Bitahon. Of course, as mentioned,
Rabbi Shimon’s practical prescription for

life is not suitable for the vast majority of us.
Nevertheless, we can – and must – strive to
heighten our trust in Hashem, our firm belief
that Hashem provides us with our needs,
irrespective of the work we invest. Although
we are to meet our obligation of Hishtadlut by
working for a living, we must recognize that
the outcome depends solely on G-d, and that
He is always caring for us.
Fascinatingly enough, this aspect of Lag
Ba’omer actually predates Rabbi Shimon, by
many generations.
The Hatam Sofer (Rav Moshe Sofer of
Pressburg, 1762-1839) writes that it was on
Lag Ba’omer when the manna fell for the very
first time. Beneh Yisrael left Egypt on the 15th
of Nissan, the first day of Pesach, bringing
with them a month’s worth of food provisions.
These provisions were depleted in the middle
of the next month, Iyar, and several days later,
on the 18th of Iyar – Lag Ba’omer – G-d
responded to the people’s cries by providing
them with manna. Quite appropriately,
then, Lag Ba’omer is also the day when we
remember, honor, and connect with the figure
of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, the bastion of
Bitahon, who lived with a keen awareness of
how all our food is “manna,” that it is Hashem
who gives us everything we need.
So much of the anxiety and stress that
people live with can be alleviated through

Bitahon, by firmly believing in Hashem’s
infinite capabilities to provide us, and in His
boundless love for us. People worry and fret
over their finances because they wrongly
assume that they know what needs to happen
for their Parnasa to arrive. They think that their
Parnasa depends on this job, on that client,
that customer, that deal, or that promotion.
Once we realize that everything we have is
manna, coming to us directly from Hashem,
we would no longer worry about any of this.
Certainly, we must live responsibly and do
our Hishtadlut as required. But once we do,
we can put all our worries and concerns to
rest, because Hashem is caring for us, often in
ways that we never imagined and could never
have imagined. His abilities are unlimited, so
we never have any reason to worry.
Let us take advantage of Lag Ba’omer, this
special day of Bitahon, to draw from the great
faith of Rabbi Shimon, so we can live with
the peace of mind and serenity that we desire.