WHEN WILL THE HALACHA BE LIKE RASHBI?

Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,

This Shabbos (Emor) is the Yahrtzait of the Rebbe’s brother, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib Schneersohn, and is also the Shabbos before the big Yom Tov of Lag B’Omer. This Yom tov is very special to the Rebbe. Starting from before the Nesius, the Rebbe would participate in special parades catering specifically to children and would speak to the children and watch them march by holding banners, and floats that display Jewish ideas and Jewish pride.

In the year 5748, which was a year of Hakhel, the Rebbe (Toras Menachem 5748 vol. 3 pg. 268) spoke at length about the necessary preparations for Lag B’Omer in a year of Hakhel. The Rebbe also spoke about the necessary messages that should be given over to the children.

The following are some of those points:

If every year, we try to gather men, women and children for Lag B’Omer, how much more so this year which is a year of Hakhel. The Torah (D’varim 31:10) tells us regarding Hakhel, “Then, Moshe commanded them, saying, ‘At the end of [every] seven years, at an appointed time… Assemble the people: the men, the women, and the children, and your stranger in your cities, in order that they hear, and in order that they learn and fear the Lord, your God, and they will observe to do all the words of this Torah.’”

…The children should be spoken to in the Rebbe’s name “if it will help get the message across” about what it says about Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (the Baal HaSimcha of Lag B’Omer) that he learned Torah so diligently that “Toraso Umnaso – learning Torah was his profession.”

Even though we may not be on that level (as the Gemara says that this level is only attainable by a select few), we can learn from him that we should try to focus more on our learning. Even if we are not learning the whole day, at least at the times that we are learning we should try to be focused and not let ourselves be disturbed.

Rabbi Shimon said about himself “B’chad Katirna Iskatarna bei – I am bound, completely bound, to Hashem.” The result of this connection is seeing the world as Hashem’s world and using everything to serve Hashem. This is the service of “B’chol derachecha dei’eihu – Knowing Hashem in all your ways.” Each child, and every person, can put themselves in that “mode” and do everything possible to reveal that this is “Hashem’s world.”

One of Rashbi’s most famous quotes is associated with the Geula: “Come and see how beloved are Israel in the sight of God, in that to every place to which they were exiled the Sh’china went with them. They were exiled to Egypt and the Sh’china was with them, as it says, ‘Did I reveal myself unto the house of thy father when they were in Egypt.’ They were exiled to Babylon, and the Sh’china was with them, as it says, ‘for your sake I was sent to Babylon.’ And when they will be redeemed in the future, the Sh’china will be with them, as it says, ‘Then the Lord thy God will return [with] thy captivity.’ … This teaches us that the Holy One, blessed be He, will return with them from the places of exile.” (Megilla 29b).

However, the principal association of Rashbi with the redemption is as it is said, “With this work of yours [the Zohar] they shall go out of exile with mercy,” for then there shall indeed be the fulfillment of “When you come into the land, etc., and the land shall rest, a Sabbatical to G-d,” in the literal sense [in the true and complete redemption].

Another connection of the Rashbi to the Geula: The important legal homilies called Sifri and Mechilta are attributed to him. In the Mishna, he is often referred to as simply “Rabbi Shimon.” He is the fourth-most mentioned sage in the entire Mishna. His merit was so great that the Talmud says “In the merit of Rashbi, the entire world can be elevated!” Yet, we find something very interesting: One may think that the Halacha would always be in accordance with Rashbi’s opinion. The truth is, however, that in most cases the Halacha is not like Rashbi.

The reasoning is simple: Halacha is not based on the wisest opinion, rather, it is based on the majority opinion of the Beis Din of the time. While Rashbi was a special Tzaddik, he was too smart (see Menachos 4a) and the majority of his contemporaries could not fully grasp the reasoning of his opinions.

This will all change in the times of Moshiach. In that era “The Jews will be great sages and know the hidden matters, grasping the knowledge of their Creator according to the full extent of human potential” (Rambam Melachim 12:5), and all sages will finally understand the full depth of the opinions of Rashbi and will rule accordingly. (See Seder Ha’doros and Tiferes Shlomo)

Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.