Lag Baomer Tish 5772

The Rebbe, shlit"a, on Lag Baomer 5772. Photo courtesy of Yochanan Jones (Milwaukee).

Last Thursday, the Rebbe, shlit"a, conducted a tish in honor of Lag Baomer. The oilam sang Bar Yochai and Amar Rebbe Akiva, in addition to many other leibedige niggunim, and reminisced about the elevated levels of kedushah and excitement felt in Meron on Lag Baomer.

Then the Rebbe spoke. The full recoding is about 20 minutes long. It is very worthwhile. The Rebbe speaks about the goal, so to speak, or the purpose of the pnimiyus, the secrets of Torah - to allow for one to be deal in chayei sha'ah, the material need of this world, and be consumed with holy fire, connected to Hashem, the neshama of everything.

Below is a paraphrased tidbit - the full recording and more pictures (from Yochanan Jones) are in the extended article.

In times when Klal Yisroel was less effected by the storm-winds of this world and its temptations we could get by with "pshat," "remez" and "drush." But in times such as ours, when we are attacked by such extraordinarily powerful and pernicious forces, storms that blow away every holy structure, we are increasingly dependent on the knowledge that there's a foundation, a "yesod," which is the "sod" - the secrets of Torah. This foundation, the Sodos Hatorah, is what holds up the structure of Klal Yisroel, and in it lies vast treasures, inordinate power of kedusha. We may not all find ourselves comfortable with studying this material - because it is, after all is said and done, very esoteric and  very challenging - however, just the mere fact that we know that we have that kind of strength - a virtual arsenal of atomic energy - at our disposal, allows us to withstand all of these very noxious, destructive elements in our personal universe. It is in Toras Hasod that Klal Yisroel recognizes that we have the necessary ammunition to withstand the assault on our values and our way of life. The singing and dancing, the celebration and joy in R' Shimon bar Yochai is our recognition of what it is that will take through the ends of days and into the days of Moshiach.

The Rebbe's Lag Baomer Torah 5772

All photography courtesy of the esteemed Yochanan Jones of Milwaukee. Yasher koach!