Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai
Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai was a fourth generation Tana and is the most frequently mentioned Sage in the Mishnah. A student of Rebbe Akiva, he was also one of the five student ordained by Rebbe Yehuda ben Baba as he sacrificed his life. Rebbe Yehudah bar Ilai lived a most of his life in complete poverty. As a result of the same incident that sent Rebbe Shimon bar Yochi into hiding, Rabbi Yehuda was appointed by the Romans as the initiating speaker at all Rabbinic gatherings, for having praised them.
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Kever Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai
Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai is buried in a cave located in Ein Zeitim, Northern Israel. Above the cave a Beis Medrash was built, which contains stairs leading down to the cave. Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai is buried on the left side of the cave and his students or family are buried on the right side. A separate women's section contains a Tzion which was the outside of the original structure built over the cave.
Burial of Jewish Human Soap
After the Holocaust, part of the human soap created from the body fat of Jews by the accursed Nazis was recovered and was brought to burial inside the cave.
Hillulah of Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai
The Yortzite of Rebbe Yehuda bar Illai is celebrated on the 14th of Iyyar, Pesach Shani. Although the exact date of the hillula is unknown, this date was chosen due to its proximity to Lag Baomer when many pilgrims traveled up North each year for the Hillula of the Rashbi. This is the same date chosen for the Hillula of the Tana Rebbe Meir.