THE LIGHT OF MOSHIACH
In connection with the reason for joy on Lag b’Omer, the Rebbe writes:
“A number of reasons were said about the joy of Lag b’Omer and its celebration. For us there is only what is written in the writings of the Arizal and brought in Chassidus, that this day is the day Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai passed away, his hilula, ‘that he attained at this time the origin and source of all his levels … and this was the subject of his teachings to the fellowship at this time … and there was illuminated in him the aspect … the illumination of the light of Moshiach. Every year, on this day, this state is aroused once again, as is known.’”
(Igros Kodesh vol. 4, p. 275)
WE NEED TO LEARN A LESSON FROM RASHBI
At the parade that took place in 5726/1966, the Rebbe said:
“Like Rashbi, upon whom a decree was made, and on his son, a decree of the Roman government, which is why he hid in a cave for thirteen years and was thus, saved from the decree, so too with each person: Although, boruch Hashem, there is no death sentence, still there is an essential decree that is the decree of the yetzer ha’ra, who tries to disconnect a Jew from Torah and mitzvos.
“Therefore, the lesson to learn from Rashbi is that by hiding in a cave, i.e. by disengaging from the world and by involving oneself in Torah, through this one is absolved of the yetzer ha’ra.”
FINDING FAVOR
Someone told the Rebbe Rashab that there are Jews who go to the grave of Rashbi in Miron but do not put on t’fillin. The Rebbe said: If the holy Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev was alive today, he would make an exquisite chandelier out of that …
A HAPPY OHEL
The Rebbe Rayatz related:
When I merited to be by Rashbi in Miron, I heard this expression: Miron is a joyous ohel; when you go there, you are strengthened. Rashbi was a joyous Rebbe. He took upon himself everything the Jewish people lack, G-d forbid, in the fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos.
(Likkutei Dibburim vol. 3)
I WAS BY RASHBI
Every country has its style from which we can learn the essence of that country. Regarding ritual slaughter it says in the Gemara: Check the tongue, check the hooves, i.e. you get to know a creature by its tongue or its hooves.
When I was in the holy land, I heard people say: “I was by Rashbi and I am going to R’ Elozor,” or “I was by R’ Chiya and I am going to R’ Akiva.” If this is said sincerely, that is the very idea of prostrating oneself on the graves of the tzaddikim.
(Seifer HaSichos 5701)
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SHAVUOS AND LAG B’OMER
In a sicha that was said on Lag b’Omer, the Rebbe Rayatz said that we need to sing a niggun as an introduction to Shavuos. Lag b’Omer and Shavuos are linked to one another. Lag b’Omer is the revelation of the p’nimius ha’Torah and Shavuos is the Mattan Torah of the revealed part of Torah.
(Seifer HaSichos 5704)
GOING TO THE OHEL ON LAG B’OMER
In the liturgy that is said upon going to the ohel, it says, “In the merit of the Tanaim and Amoraim … and in the merit of the tzaddikim who are buried in this place.” From this it is understood that at the gravesite of a tzaddik are also the other tzaddikim, Tanaim and Amoraim etc. including and especially (in connection with Lag b’Omer) Rashbi.
Therefore, I suggest that on Lag b’Omer, the hilula of Rashbi, the day of his rejoicing, the greatest joy like the joy of a wedding, everyone should travel to the ohel for that is where they will find Rashbi too.
(Sicha Lag b’Omer 5710)
FIRST HAIRCUT IN MIRON
It is a widespread custom to have a boy’s first haircut when he turns three in Miron. In Pri Eitz Chayim, Shaar S’firas HaOmer, R’ Chaim Vital writes about going to Miron on Lag b’Omer, that he saw his master, the Ari, who went to Miron, go up and cut his son’s hair joyously during these days.
The Rebbe responded to questioners that it is permissible to cut a boy’s hair when he turns three on Lag B’Omer in Miron and he emphasized that “obviously, of all those who are cutting hair then, not all of them were born on this very day, and still, one connects this inyan to a meritorious day.”
(Igros Kodesh, letter 2671)
ALEF BEIS
In 5713, the Rebbe said to utilize the custom of cutting the boy’s hair in order to instill Judaism among the masses of Jews.
“On Lag b’Omer many children are brought to Miron for a mitzva-haircut … use this for influence in chinuch by giving out booklets or alef-beis charts. On the reverse side, put your address and messages that also pertain to parents.
(Igros Kodesh vol. 7, p. 274)
Following the Rebbe’s instruction to use the haircutting for Torah education, in 5714, Chabad activists attached alef-beis charts to bags of sweets for the children, the baalei simcha.
“The impression was enormous as the young children rode their fathers’ shoulders during the traditional dances held there as they waved the alef-beis charts in their hands.”
(Bita’on Chabad)
LIKE THE ARI’S PRACTICE
The Ari (lion) zal and his “lion cubs” would go up to Miron for Lag b’Omer and would spend three days there. In 5740/1980, the Rebbe farbrenged three times in connection with Lag b’Omer: on Shabbos which was Erev Lag b’Omer, on Sunday – Lag b’Omer at the parade, and on Motzaei Lag b’Omer. At the last of the three, the Rebbe said that this was “something like, akin to, and a smattering thereof,” of the above-stated practice of the Arizal.
MIRACLES AT RASHBI’S GRAVE
The Rebbe Rayatz said: “Many miracles were seen at Rashbi’s grave, i.e. petitioners’ requests were fulfilled. I heard this from elderly people who experienced it. When you hear it from the person it happened to, it’s different.”
(Seifer HaSichos 5699)
WHAT WE EAT ON LAG B’OMER
On Lag b’Omer, some had the custom of eating eggs. That is what the Rebbe Rashab did and so did the Rebbe, who would eat eggs whose peel was colored brown as it cooked.
The Rebbe generally did this in his room, but at the Lag b’Omer farbrengen in 5730 there was a hardboiled egg on the table. During the farbrengen, the Rebbe cut it into four pieces and ate some of it.
The Rebbe said that in his father’s house they ate carobs to remember the carobs that sustained Rashbi and R’ Elozor his son while they were in the cave.