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Holy Days -
Lag BOmer
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Written by Rafi Jager
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Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai asked his five talmidim to go find the “good way a person should attach himself to” (Avos 2:8-9). The answer Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai liked best came from Rebbi Elazar Ben Arach who said “Lev Tov”.
The Bnei Yisaschar explains that the talmidim were supposed to base their answer on the Torah’s first use of the word “Tov”. Rebbi Elazar Ben Arach said Lev Tov because the first time the Torah mentions the word Tov is after thirty-two words, the numerical equivalent of Lev.
This answer found the most favor in the eyes of Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai because it was the most general and included all the other answers within it. The key is Lev Tov.
Lev Tov says the Bnei Yisaschar is 49 in gematria
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Holy Days -
Lag BOmer
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Written by Administrator
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Holy Days -
Lag BOmer
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24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students died since 'lo nahagu kavod zeh lazeh' (yevamos 62b); they did not behave respectfully to one another. How could this be - Rabbi Akiva was THE person who stressed va'havta lereacha kamocha [loving jews] and must have given many shiurim on that topic; how could they not have internalised this message? An answer is that deep down, they did have respect for one another. The problem was that they did not act according to this mutual repsect; they ignored it and instead acted without regard for each other. This is why the gemarra's expression is 'shelo NAHAGU (act) kavod zeh lazeh;' they did have respect for each other - they just did not act it out. This plague ended at Lag B'omer. What changed? The Mishna (avos 2;13) reports that the best answer to Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai's challange to find the best path was that of Rabbi Elazar ben Arach. He said 'to have a good heart' (lev tov) - for once one's heart and internal world is good, mitzvos will follow (see mesillas yesharim end of perek 16). The words 'lev tov' have the gematria of 49 - the same as the days of the Omer; Lev is 32 and Tov is 17. Lag B'omer comes in the middle of those two words - it is the 33rd day. Thus, it is the day when we start managing to achieve a good heart. And since the sin of the students of Rabbi Akiva was that they disconnected their feelings from their actions, the correction was to readdress the balace and ensure that the feelings were pure and led to positive and constructive actions. This was Lag B'omer, when they began to regain their Lev Tov.
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Holy Days -
Lag BOmer
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In the mishna in Pirkei Avos Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai asked his five talmidim to go find the “good way a person should attach himself to” (Avos 2:8-9). The answer Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai liked best came from Rebbi Elazar Ben Arach who said “Lev Tov”. The Bnei Yisaschar explains that the talmidim were supposed to base their answer on the Torah’s first use of the word “Tov”. Rebbi Elazar Ben Arach said Lev Tov because the first time the Torah mentions the word Tov is after thirty-two words, the numerical equivalent of Lev.
This answer found the most favor in the eyes of Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai because it was the most general and included all the other answers within it. The key is Lev Tov. Lev Tov says the Bnei Yisaschar is 49 in gematria. Working on your Lev Tov is the best way to prepare for Matan Torah.
Chazal tell us the word Tov refer to the Torah. The Sefira can be divided into two parts the first part Lev, 32 days and the second part Tov, 17 days. Lag BaOmer the 33rd day is the first day and the earliest sign of the light of Torah emanating from Matan Torah. It is the first day of Tov. On Lag BaOmer, through the teachings of Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the light of the Torah is revealed to us. It shines brighter each day leading up to the day we eagerly await, the day of Kabolos HaTorah.
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Holy Days -
Lag BOmer
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The Gemara in Succah (45b) quotes Rebbi Shimon, "I have seen the people "on top" and they are few. If there are 1,000, I and my son are among them. If there are 100, I and my son are among them, if there are 2, I and my son are among them."
It is explained that Rebbi Shimon is saying that even if doing the right thing is not very popular and not in vogue one must nevertheless act properly. Rebbi Shimon taught us that no matter how many or few people choose to follow the right path I and my son will.
Even if it means we are the only 2 standing against world.
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