Lag Baomer: It's Not For Me | Rabbi Mordechai Alster

What’s said in this shiur

The opening of this shiur, in Vayimaen’s own words — taken from the captions, so names and Hebrew terms may be approximate.

After 12 years in the cave, the news spread that the Caesar, the emperor died, and R’ Shimon bar Yochai was no longer in danger. The Gemara in Shabbos 33b speaks about that moment and the Aruch Hashulchan says that it actually happened on Lag Baomer. Eliyahu Hanavi came and stood אפיתחא דמערתא, he stood at the entrance to the cave and he said: מאן לודעיה לבר יוחי דמית קיסר Who is going to inform, who's going to notify R’ Shimon bar Yochai that the Emperor died and he’s no longer in danger? R’ Yaakov Emden asks the obvious question. Eliyahu Hanavi was no stranger to the cave. The Zohar in Parshas Ki Savo says that he came to the cave and learned with R’ Shimon bar Yochai every single day. Why at this critical moment didn't Eliyahu Hanavi just enter the cave and inform R’ Shimon bar Yochai that the Caesar died? During World War I, many Yidden, including many Yeshivas, like Radin and Slobodka, escaped the war zone and relocated to Minsk. Among them was R’ Chaim Soloveitchik and his son, R’ Yitzchok Zev, who later became the Brisker Rav. One night, while in mourning for his mother, the Brisker Rav went to the relocated Slobodka Yeshiva

Jump to a moment

1. 0:05After 12 years in the cave, the news spread that the Caesar, the emperor died, and…
2. 0:36The Zohar in Parshas Ki Savo says that he came to the cave and learned with…
3. 1:07to daven Maariv for the Amud. He looked around and he saw all the Bochurim and…
4. 1:38I will not stop them. איך קלאפ נישט. I will not give the klap. The Gabai…
5. 2:08that R’ Shimon bar Yocahi must leave the cave, and he knew that if he doesn't…
6. 2:38I asked the Halachic question. It's 100% permitted. There is no other way. There's nowhere else…
7. 3:08Are the standards that I set for myself going to be compromised if I go? That's…

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