Lag BaOmer: The Hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (with Songs for Download)

[Click here to download the song sheet for printing.]

A tradition handed down from generation to generation holds that the day of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s passing was Lag BaOmer — the eighteenth of Iyar. On the day he died, an immense light of boundless joy filled the world, kindled by the profound mysteries he revealed to his disciples that very day — mysteries later set down in the Zohar (the foundational text of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism). Never before had the world been worthy of a day like that one, when such sublime matters were disclosed to human beings. For Rabbi Shimon and the disciples who were with him, that day had the character of a hillula (literally, a wedding celebration — a day of supreme rejoicing, like a bridegroom’s joy beneath the wedding canopy). The day stretched longer than ordinary days; the sun did not set until he had revealed everything he had been permitted to reveal. Only then did he allow the sun to go down. As the sun sank, the soul of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai departed and ascended on high — all of it as recorded in the Idra Zuta (the final section of the Zohar, which describes his passing).

For this reason, the day has been observed with celebration, even though the deaths of the righteous are ordinarily days of fasting. But such was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s own wish, and so the early masters established: that his yahrzeit should be kept as a day of joy in every generation, just as it was at the moment of his passing.

The practice of lighting candles with great ceremony at the tomb of Rashbi (an acronym for Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai) on Lag BaOmer goes back to ancient times. Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartenura, writing to his brother in the year 5249 (1489 CE), describes it this way:

“On the eighteenth of Iyar, the day of his death, people come from all the surrounding areas and light great torches — in addition to the lamp that burns there continually.”

When the holy Ari (Rabbi Isaac Luria, the sixteenth-century Kabbalist of Safed) appeared, together with his foremost disciples and their disciples — masters who possessed extraordinary depth in the hidden wisdom — they taught the people the full magnitude of the joy befitting this hillula. After them came the great figures of Hasidism, the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov, who followed in the footsteps of the Kabbalists. And so Lag BaOmer became the day on which all of Israel honors the memory of the divine Tanna (Mishnaic sage) Rashbi, prays that his merit may shield all of Israel, and trusts that his light will illuminate every corner of the Jewish world.

Candles, Torches, and Bonfires

As already noted, the day of the holy Tanna’s passing was filled with more light than any other day, as described in the Idra Zuta. From this flows the custom of multiplying lights on this day in synagogues, studying his Torah by their glow, recounting his praises, singing hymns composed in his honor, and learning from the Idra Zuta in the holy Zohar.

In the Jewish communities of Poland and Russia, it was customary for young men to go through the town collecting candles for the hillula celebration held in the house of study. In some places, beacons were lit in the open air to honor the day.

The most powerful expression of the custom of lighting bonfires in honor of Rashbi, however, is found in the Land of Israel — and above all at Meron, at the tomb of Rashbi and his son Rabbi Elazar. This custom was established by the holy Ari and his disciples. Great sages across the generations who were privileged to prostrate themselves at that tomb felt a profound spiritual elevation, and tradition holds that salvations for Israel were wrought at that very site (as mentioned in the letter of Rabbi Ovadiah of Bartenura, cited above).

Rabbi Simcha son of Rabbi Yehoshua of Zlotshiv, who immigrated to the Land of Israel around two hundred years ago (in the year 5524 / 1764 CE), describes the lighting ceremony in his travel memoir Ahavat Tzion (Love of Zion):

“Near the dome above Rabbi Shimon’s tomb stands a stone column, and upon it is a kind of large basin into which oil is poured. Worn garments and shirts of cotton or linen are placed inside it, and it is lit — and the light is visible for many miles around, for Meron sits on a mountain. This lighting on the day of his passing, on Lag BaOmer, is called the hillula of Rashbi.”

(From Sefer HaToda’ah, chapter twenty-seven.)

Liturgical Poems for Lag BaOmer

[Click here to download the song sheet for printing.]

Bar Yochai — by Rabbi Shimon ibn Lavi

Bar Yochai, you have been anointed — how blessed you are —
With the oil of gladness above all your companions.

Bar Yochai, with holy anointing oil you were anointed,
From the attribute of holiness;
You bore the tzitz (the golden plate of the High Priest’s crown),
Bound upon your head as your splendor.

Bar Yochai, you dwelled in a goodly dwelling —
The day you fled, the day you took refuge
In the cave of rock where you stood;
There you acquired your glory and your majesty.

Bar Yochai, like the shittim-wood pillars standing firm —
Students of Hashem, they study;
A wondrous light, a blazing fire they kindle —
Are not they your very teachers?

Bar Yochai, to the field of apple trees
You ascended to gather its spices;
The secrets of Torah, like blossoms and flowers —
“Let us make man” (Genesis 1:26) was said on your account.

Bar Yochai, you were girded with might,
In the war of the fiery Torah you waged;
You drew the sword from its sheath,
Unsheathed it against those who persecuted you.

Bar Yochai, to the place of marble stones
You came before the lion;
You also revealed the crown over the constellation,
You gazed — and who could gaze upon you?

Bar Yochai, in the Holy of Holies,
A green thread renewing the months,
Seven weeks — the mystery of fifty —
You bound the knots of the letter Shin.

Bar Yochai, Yod — primordial Wisdom —
You looked inward toward His glory;
The thirty-two paths, the first offering —
You are the anointed cherub, radiance is your light.

Bar Yochai, O wondrous light, height of heights —
You feared to gaze, for it was too great;
A concealment to which none can call —
A sleeping eye cannot behold you.

Bar Yochai, blessed is she who bore you,
Blessed is the people who learn from you,
And blessed are those who stand over your mysteries —
Wearing the breastplate of Your Thummim and Your Urim.

Va’amartem Ko LeHai — “And you shall say: To life!”

And you shall say: To life! — Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai!

Alef: A man of God, holy is he;
Blessed is the eye that beheld him;
A wise heart guides his mouth —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Bet: Blessed is he, by the word of the Most High;
Holy is he from the womb;
A luminary from the Upper Galilee —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Gimel: A warrior and a man of battle
In the Torah’s perfect law;
Full of knowledge and wisdom —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Dalet: He expounded all hidden matters
With strength and power;
He ascended to lofty heights —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

He: He was hidden within a cave
Before the decree;
There he learned the secrets of Torah —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Vav: There a spring was created for him,
And a carob tree for his food;
How good was his portion and his lot —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Zayin: May the memory of the righteous be a blessing —
Din rika u’var rika (a phrase from the Zohar meaning pure judgment and its fruit);
He merited much and brought merit to many —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Het: He renewed many laws
Arranged now in the Mishnah;
This is he who shook kingdoms —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Tet: He purified the city of Tiberias,
Made it clean;
Heaven gave him honor for it —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Yod: He knew all hidden things;
His words bear abundant fruit;
He annulled many decrees —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Kaf: All the days that he lived,
The sign of the rainbow never appeared,
For he himself was the eternal sign —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Lamed: To all of Israel he gave light
Through the secret of the Torah of the Bahir;
Shining like the light of the sun —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Mem: He chose a place in heaven
Alongside the prophet Ahijah;
He is among the supreme ones —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Nun: Most beloved above,
He merited honor and greatness;
The supreme crown was revealed to him —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Samech: “Sinai, Sinai” was his name called,
Lion of the fellowship;
From him the Torah goes forth —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Ayin: He fashioned seventy tikkunim (mystical rectifications),
More precious than pearls;
Through them he set the higher worlds aright —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Pe: He opened his mouth in wisdom,
Brought forth the light of hidden things,
Set in order the radiance of the sun —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Tzadi: The righteous one is the foundation of the world;
He revealed the hidden Midrash;
He could acquit the entire world —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Kof: His voice silences the fierce;
He cut down the thorns
And rescued the oppressed —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Resh: His face was seen shining
As he sat among his companions,
When he revealed hidden mysteries —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Shin: Great peace rests upon his resting-place;
How beautiful and how good —
He who speaks truth in his heart —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Tav: His Torah is a shield for us;
It gives light to our eyes;
May he intercede well on our behalf —
Our master, Bar Yochai.

Ashreinu Mah Tov Chelkeinu — “How fortunate we are, how good is our portion” — by Rabbi Yosef Shapira of Safed

Refrain: How fortunate we are, how good is our portion,
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
How pleasant is our destiny,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Alef: Compassionate Father, hear our voice
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
You are our Savior,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Bet: May he come swiftly and gladden our hearts
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
May the son of David come and redeem us,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Gimel: Reveal the glory of Your kingship over us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Redeem us with a complete redemption,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Dalet: Grant us knowledge and understanding
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Bless the generation of the upright,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

He: Restore Your Shekhinah (Divine Presence) to Zion, our city,
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Today, hear our cry,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Vav: May our prayer be pleasing before You
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
May our eyes merit to see Zion upon His return,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Zayin: May the merit of the ancestors shield us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
This is Hashem whom we have awaited — may He save us,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Het: Have pity and compassion on us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Have mercy on us and on our children,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Tet: O Good and Beneficent One, be sought by us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
May Your goodness and kindness rest upon us,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Yod: May peoples fall beneath us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
May Hashem our God be with us,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Kaf: A crown of praises upon our heads
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Crown us with honor and splendor,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Lamed: Make us a name and a praise
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Provide us our allotted bread,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Mem: Merciful King, have mercy on us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Fill our hands from Your blessing,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Nun: O radiant and mighty One, do not forget us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Lead us to Zion, our destiny,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Samech: May there be an end to all our troubles
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Forgive, please, our iniquity,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Ayin: May this day be a time of favor for us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Help us, O God of our salvation,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Pe: Open for us the gates of mercy for our prayer
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Sustain us with a generous livelihood,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Tzadi: Let the horn of our redeemer flourish
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Deal with us in tzedakah and kindness,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Kof: Tear up the evil decree against us
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Raise up our gathered community,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Resh: We desire to behold our King
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Grant us complete healing,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Shin: Dwell as of old in our tents
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
O Hashem, restore our captivity,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

Tav: Bring us up in joy to our Land
At the hillula of Bar Yochai;
Rebuild our Temple for us,
By the merit of our master, Bar Yochai.

See also: Wonderful Prayers for Lag BaOmer