18 Iyar 5750 Sicha 1

The day of Lag B'omer is, famously,

the "Day of Celebration" of
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

He was among the greatest
Sages of the Mishnah,

and many of his teachings are
cited in Mishnah and Talmud,

and in the "middle-ground" between
Mishnah and Talmud: the Beraita.

Among his teachings, one book
relates especially to Lag B'omer

-- a day which relates to the
general Counting of the Omer

which we've explained
numerous times:

The Counting of the Omer represents
the unity of the Jewish People.

The Jewish People are divided into
"Seven branches of the Menorah";

the prophet conveys
God's comparison,

that the Jews are likened
to the golden Menorah

-- the golden Menorah which
Moses placed in the Tabernacle,

and later stood
in the First Temple

and in the Second Temple

-- and very soon,

with the true and
complete redemption,

there will also be
a golden Menorah

in the Third Temple,
"Built by God's hands,"

and then we will see a more
distinct reflection of this idea

that all Jews are unified even as we
worship God in seven different ways,

reflecting the seven emotions.

Every Jew is commanded to
serve God "With all your heart,"

as we recite every
day in the Shema

more than once a day,

but the golden Menorah is
divided into seven branches,

and the Jewish people
are divided similarly.

Now, in essence, every Jew
reflects all seven branches,

all seven modes
of Godly worship,

but every Jew has
his unique focus.

As we learn regarding the Patriarchs,

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all
served God with their entire being

-- "the Patriarchs were
totally nullified before God" --

yet they also each stood out
with a unique mode of worship:

Abraham focused on love of God,

Isaac served God with fear,

and Jacob combined both paths,

and is therefore called
tiferet--beauty,

for it is more beautiful,
so to speak,

than the worship of
Abraham and Isaac,

because he incorporated both elements:

He served God with love,

and also served God with fear

-- a combination of both.

This is a lesson for Jewish children.

Lag B'omer is a day
that is connected,

according to Jewish custom
-- which is a part of Torah --

with Jewish children.

They gather together,

and they clearly demonstrate

the meaning of the verse which is
cited by Rabbi Shimon in the Zohar,

the book with which "we will be
mercifully redeemed from exile"

-- in the merit of studying the
Zohar and its commentaries,

the Jewish nation will soon
be redeemed from exile,

and "mercifully," without
experiencing hardship,

to the contrary, it will be
amid joy and gladness.

So the verse that Rabbi Shimon
explains in the Zohar,

is especially connected
with Lag B'omer:

"How good and
how pleasant it is

when brothers dwell
united together."

This verse refers primarily
to every single Jew,

for we are called "brothers,"

especially when we fulfill the
famous teaching of Rabbi Akiva,

the teacher of Rabbi
Shimon Bar Yochai;

Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai even
attributed his own good conduct

to being a "terumah--tithe"
from Rabbi Akiva's conduct,

meaning, it was comparable to
the small measure of crop,

which we lift out and
declare to be terumah.

This is an instruction
for Jewish children --

there is something they must
do with extra enthusiasm:

Children are involved
in a myriad of activities;

we see that when
raising Jewish children,

both boys and girls,

we begin educating each
of them from a young age,

both to do action -- to fulfill mitzvot,

and also to know restraint --
to desist from undesirable actions.

Starting with lessons
from our forefathers:

From Abraham
we learn to love

every Jewish, good,
and charitable cause,

and to be charitable
to non-Jew as well,

and to also influence them

to fulfill their own mitzvot
wholesomely and joyfully.

Their mitzvot include,
first and foremost,

to worship God,
Creator of the world,

and also includes
the concept of charity,

to provide assistance to
whomever may need it,

and to give them the ability to
deal with the issue on their own.

---------------------

if you see that somebody
has a shortcoming,

to show him compassion.

Reach out to him with love

-- true love and
even self-sacrifice

as you would for yourself,

to help him free himself
of the negative trait.

You also take
upon yourself

-- because all mankind is
commanded to be charitable,

simply and literally --

that if someone is lacking
in his material needs,

do everything you can

to help provide his needs.

How much more so if
he is lacking spiritually,

in his conduct and character,

even if he is lacking this
very compassion or love

for others who are in need.

Do not withhold from
him the compassion

which God blessed
you to have.

God sustains both
Jews and non-Jews,

as we say in the
Grace After Meals:

"In His goodness, He provides
sustenance for the entire world,

with grace, with kindness,
and with mercy."

God not only sustains us,

He does so with grace,
kindness and mercy.

So we see how
important it is

and how central it is to
one's service of God,

for both Jews
and non-Jews

to help others in their
material or spiritual needs.

And to love another
as you love yourself:

Guide and provide for him

until he reaches the same
standing as your own.

Then, he himself will provide
for you "scholarly envy" --

he will be an example to
the one who guided him,

demonstrating how every
person must do all he can

to constantly grow.

This is a directive to every
Jew in their own life,

and also to impact the world,

that it should
constantly progress

from one level to the next,

from one rung in Divine
service to a higher rung.

-----------------------------

These directives are especially
expressed on Lag B'omer,

through the children

when, instead of standing
still in one place,

they march forth in a parade

moving forward.

The parade expresses
the very core of education:

children are taught to
always progress forward

toward the ultimate perfection

as it will be in the
time of Moshiach.

-------------------------------

The challenge to move
forward unites all mankind

as one community,

serving God with
joy and gladness.

And this too,

is expressed by this
parade of Jewish children.

Although the children
who are marching

are Jewish children
from Jewish schools,

but at the head of the parade

are military personnel,

who include both Jewish
and non-Jewish members.

They march in front,
ahead of the parade,

to ensure that it should
proceed properly,

peacefully and healthily.

In addition, there's not
even a thought of rain.

The weather is good, and
so is the entire atmosphere.

This is expressed

in those who are
taking part in the parade,

and certainly in those
who lead the procession

and who are also guarding it.

They lead the parade to
the rhythm of their band

with their musical instruments,

and this makes the
children even happier

as well as the adults,

the onlookers,

both Jews and non-Jews.

That is the power of music,

it causes joy --
obvious, open joy.

And this is obvious:

it is easier to create an
atmosphere of togetherness,

to unite people,

when it is done with
joy, music and song;

and especially when
it comes to children

who are marching forward,

progressing from
one level to the next;

and even more so
when it involves

the state and
municipal authorities

-- both Jewish
and non-Jewish,

united in one goal

to promote peace,
brotherly love and friendship.