Bar Yochai
For Lag B'Omer
The 33rd day of the Counting is Bar Yochai’s holiday. Who is Bar Yochai? The paradigm for the deepest teacher. His holiday begins tonight, Monday, May 4th.
Bar Yochai Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, protagonist of the Zohar, 1st – 2nd century CE We sat around a table and asked each other what is it about Bar Yochai? I asked Luzzatto I am Bar Yochai he said. I asked the holy Ari what is it about Bar Yochai? He looked into my forehead read out the pathway of my soul. I asked the Besht the master of the Good Name what is it about Bar Yochai? He was the one who expressed ambiguity one eye smiling one eye crying. Bar Yochai attached himself to the present in wonder and terror simultaneously. He detached himself from outcomes he left students. I am Bar Yochai said the holy Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer the Baal Shem Tov on this we all agreed. Bar Yochai dreamed peace on the way to Rome he fell into a pond saw two letters floating in the water. He dreamed up into the sky saw the complete dream of peace in one word imprinted in the heavens. He wrote I have 1/2 of everything I want Thus he spent his last days believing if he could make the peace prayers properly twice the world would be redeemed. Excuse me he said while I kiss the sky. jsg.33 Lag B’Omer