Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai

{{Infobox
|title = Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai 
|image        = [[File:00000921 rashbi on lag baomer.jpg|215px|alt=Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai]]
|header3 = Hebrew:
|data4  = רבי שמעון בר יוחאי
|header5 = Other Names:
|data6  = The Rashbi, Rebbe Shimon ben Yochai
|header7 = Spelling:
|data8  = Yochi, Simeon, Yohai
|header9 = Kever:
|data10  = Meron
|header11 = Hillula:
|data12  = Lag Baomer = 18th of Iyyar
|header13 = Description:
|data14  = A 4th generation Tana, one of the all time leading kabbalists and the author of the Zohar.}}

'''Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai''' also known as the '''Rashbi''' was a 4th generation Tana and a student of [[Rabbi Akiva]], recognized even in his youth for his greatness in Torah. He was one of the five student to receive Smicha from Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava and later from Rabbi Akiva following the death of his students. After being sentenced to death for making a negative remark about the Roman government, Rebbe Shimon was forced to flee along with his son [[Rabbi-Elazar-ben-Rabbi-Shimon|Rebbe Elazar]], hiding in a [[Cave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai|cave in Peki'in]] for 13 years. Great mysteries of the Torah were revealed to the Rashbi during the years he spent in the cave and upon emerging he founded the school that created the Zohar, one of the pillars of the [[Kabbalah]]. Often quoted in the Mishna under the name 'Rebbe Shimon', he also authored the basis of the Sefri. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is buried in Meron, his Kever being the most visited in the world, with over 600,000 visitors arriving to his Hillula on Lag Baomer. He is known to have been one of the five 'Tzadiki Yesod Olam' that existed throughout history.

==Fasts==
Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai fasted three sets of 40 consecutive days during which he did not eat or drink just like [[Moshe Rabbenu]]. During this time he stood in prayer for the Jewish Nation.<ref>Otzar Hamidrashim Part 2, Page 551</ref>

==Family==
Rabbi Shimon was the son-in-law of [[Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair]] and possibly had a son-in-law  with the same name. Meaning his daughter married the grandson of Rabbi Pinchas the Elder who was also named Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair.

==Atone for the World==
Rabbi Shimon declared about himself that he could absolve the entire world from Judgment<ref>Talmud Bavli Sucah 45B</ref> since he can carry the burden of all their sins.<ref>Rashi Talmud Bavli Sucah 45B</ref>

==Idra Zuta==
Rebbe Shimon passed away on Lag Baomer, the 18th of Iyyar. On that day he revealed many great mysteries of the Kabbalah to his students and this event is known as the [[Idra Zuta|Idra Zuta]] - the Lesser Assembly, in contrast to the [[Idra Rabba|Idra Raba]] - the Greater Assembly, where more students were present. 

===Seat by Achiya HaShiloni===
When Rebbe Shimon became ill, Rabbi Pinchas, [[Rabbi Chiya From the Zohar|Rabbi Chiya]], [[Rabbi Abba From the Zohar|Rabbi Aba]] and the Chavarim came before him. They heard Rabbi Shimon say something but he had disappeared and they could not see him. They wondered and none could utter a word due to the great fear that fell upon them. Suddenly they began to smell heavenly fragrances that strengthened them and once again they saw Rebbe Shimon. He was talking to someone but they saw no one besides him. Time passed and then Rabbi Shimon questioned his students if they had seen something. Rabbi Pinchas responded that they had not but were all wondering regarding his disappearance, the heavenly fragrances from the Garden of Eden and his conversation with an invisible entity. Rabbi Shimon responded that they had taken him Above and shown him the seats of the Tzadikim in the Next World but he was only satisfied when he selected his seat near the Prophet Achiya HaShiloni.<ref>Zohar Chadash Pasrshas Berashis, Page 24A</ref>

===Stopping of the Sun===
In middle of the Idra Zuta after noticing that the sun was setting Rabbi Shimon announced that "the day will not distance itself and settle in its place since the entire day is under his control",<ref>Zohar Pasrshas HaZinue Page 291A</ref>, therby holding the sun in place and preventing it from setting just like [[Yehoshua Bin Nun]] had done.<ref name="Ahavas Hashem from Rabbi Yosef Sadbon">Ahavas Hashem from Rabbi Yosef Sadbon</ref>

===Day of Atonement===
A the end of the Idra Zuta a heavenly Bat Kol voice came out and declared "how many prosecutors in Heaven have been silenced on this day in your merit". Many people that had large debts of horrible punishments and reincarnations were freed from judgment and saved from retribution in the merit of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai on that day.<ref name="Ahavas Hashem from Rabbi Yosef Sadbon"/>

===Burial===
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's bed elevated itself and flew though the air and a fire burnt before it. All present heard a voice call out 'come to the celebration of Rebbe Shimon, may he come in peace and rest in his burial location.' When his bed entered the cave, they heard a voice from inside declare "This man uproars the land and upsets governments".

==Cave of Rabbi Shimon==
The [[Cave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai|cave where Rebbe Shimon hid]] with his son is located in Peki'in.

==Kever Rebbe Shimon==
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is buried in Meron along with his son [[Rabbi-Elazar-ben-Rabbi-Shimon|Rebbe Elazar]]. Their actual kever is in a cave which is now inaccessible but people pray at the tomb built above the cave with Matzevot aligned directly above the actual kivarim. Kever Rashbi is the most visited tomb in Israel with thousands of people streaming through each day during all hours. Historically many visitors to Eretz Yisroel would make trips to this location and recorded it in their dairies.  

Even in Tanaic and Talmudic times Kever Rashbi was a renown spiritual shrine and the Talmud recorded an incident of it being visited by Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and Eliyahu Hanavi, which possibly occurred on Lag Baomer.<ref>Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 98A</ref> The Zohar records the kever being visited by Rabbi Abba<ref>Zohar Parshas Chayi Sarah 126A</ref>, Rabbi Chiya<ref>Zohar Introduction 4A</ref> and one of Rabbi Shimons former students how had forgotten his learning, remembering it after weeping by the Kever.<ref>Koheles Rabba Chapter 10:10</ref>

===Hillula of Rabbi Shimon===
The hillulah of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is celebrated each year on Lag Baomer. Over 600,000 attend the celebrations in Meron. Before he became well known the [[Rabbi Yitzchak Luria|holy Arizal]] traveled with his entire family from Egypt, probably leaving right after Pesach, for the hillulah and spent three days in Meron.

====Joy====
There is great joy by the Hillula of the Rashbi and thousands of people dance in the courtyard and surrounding mountain slope. These joyous festivities were documented in many traveler dairies throughout the generations. Rabbi Avraham HaLavi was accustomed every day to recite the Nachem mourning prayers for the destruction of the Temple. After he recited them by the Tziyun during the Hillula, Rebbe Shimon appeared standing above his tomb to the Arizal and instructed him to inform Rabbi Avraham that since he had mourned during his day of joy, he would soon have reason to mourn due to the passing of one of his children.

====Burning Garments====
There is an old custom to burn new expensive garments during the Hillula in honor of Rabbi Shimon. In the 1800's this custom came under controversy for transgressing the prohibition of 'Bal Tashchis' needless wasting of useful objects. [[Rabbi Shmuel Heller]] authored an entire book called 'Kavod Milachim' defending this custom. He brought testimony from the Sephardic Elders of [[Safed|Tzfat]] who witnessed Rabbi Chaim ben Atar (the Ohr Hachaim) himself burn valuable garments in honor of Rabbi Shimon in Meron on Lag Baomer.

===Zayin Adar===
Many people visit the tomb of the Rashbi on Zayin Adar for the Hillulah of [[Moshe Rabbenu]] since part of his soul was reincarnated in Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and both of them held the position of the Tzadik Yesod Olam who could associate with all Jewish souls.

==Praises==
*"This man uproars the land and upsets governments" ''Bas Kol'' <ref>End of Idra Zuta</ref>
*"The supernal holy light that the entire world must welcome his face" ''[[Rabbi Abba From the Zohar|Rabbi Abba]]'' <ref>Zohar Parshas Vaeschanan 265B</ref>
*"I saw the holy torch, the Holy of Holies" ''[[Rabbi Abba From the Zohar|Rabbi Abba]] describing Rebbe Shimon''
*"From the day Rebbe Shimon emerged from the cave, the supernal mysteries were open and revealed amongst the Chavarim as if they were given at that moment from Mount Sinai. After his passing the streams of the depth and the channels of the sky became sealed and the Chavarim whisper the teachings but they would not remain with them" ''Rebbe Yossi''<ref>Zohar Vayechi 26B</ref>
*"A place of fire, the flame of Holy One Blessed Be He and the entire entourage of the upper realms are here and all the souls of the Tadikim are there." ''The Holy Ohr Hachaim when he traveled to Meron''<ref>Kevod Melachim</ref>
*"In the future he will be the head to all the tzadikim sitting in Gan Eden." ''[[Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai]] regarding Rabbi Shimon''<ref>Zohar Chadash Parshas Ki Tavo Page 73B</ref>
* Just like Shabbos is holy to Hashem, so to Rabbi Shimon is holy Shabbos for Hashem. ''[[Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai]]''<ref>Zohar Parshas Naso Page 144B</ref>
*The holy [[Rabbi Yitzchak Luria|Arizal]] gave a tikkun to a baal teshuva that each day he should recite five pages from the Zohar.<ref>Sivchay Hari 51</ref>
* "It says in the verse 'All males should go see the face of the Master Hashem', who is the 'face of the Master Hashem' this is Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai." ''Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yossi'' <ref>Zohar Parshas Bo Page 38A</ref>
*"Hashe engraved the form of Rebbe Shimon's face in the Upper Realm." ''Rabbi Yossi''<ref>Zohar Parshas Achari Mos Page 61A</ref>
* In all generations when people occupy themselves with the holy Zohar, they awaken the power of the souls and the power of the Tzadikim along with the power of Moshe Rabbanu who all participated in the creation of the Zohar and through this they nullify the power of the external forces. ''[[Rabbi Moshe Cordovero|The Ramak]]''<ref>Ohr Yakar on Tikunay ohar Volume 1 Page 223</ref>
* One who attaches himself to the book of the Zohar gets away from the Sitra Acher and does not need to go through the birth-pangs before the arrival of Moshiach. ''The Ramchal''<ref>Adir Bamoram Page 22</ref>
* "Even though a person does not understand the Zohar, just reading the words is auspicious for the soul" ''The Ramchal''<ref>Derech Eitz Chaim</ref>
* "And there was light" this is Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai"<ref>Midrash brought down in Sefer Hakinuim, Category Ohr</ref>
* "The merit of Rebbe Shimon in the Upper Worlds is greater than all the Tzadikim" ''Rabbi Yackov Abuchatzera'' <ref>Doresh Tov 72</ref>
* "Rebbe, Rebbe, you are the large tree and strong in Torah. In your branches which are holy limbs, many birds dwell there, which are holy souls, representing the Upper worlds as it says "in its branches will dwell the birds of the sky<ref>Daniel 3:9</ref>. Many people below will attain sustenance from your work (the Zohar) when it will be revealed below in the final generation, at the end of the days. Because of it "freedom will be decreed in the land"<ref>Vayikra 25</ref>. ''A melodious voice from the supernal tree''<ref>Tikunay Zohar, Tikkun 6 Page 23B</ref>
* The Baal Shem Tov commanded his followers to study a teaching from the Zohar before each prayer<ref>Baal Shem Tov on the Torah, Volume 1, Page 66</ref>
* "Studying Zohar is higher then all other studies, even if a person does not know what he is saying, and even if he mistakenly reads it wrong. It is a huge rectification for the soul." the Chida  <ref>Avodas Hakodesh, Moreh Etzba, Section 44</ref>
* "It is know that studying Zohar is very, very auspicious. Know, that through the study of Zohar a person receives desire for sorts of other Torah studies."  ''The holy Tzadik [[Rebbe Nachman of Breslev|Rabbi Nachman of Breslov]]'' <ref>Sichos Haran 108</ref>

==Teachings==
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said "my sons review my attributes"<ref>Talmud Bavli, Gitten 67A</ref> which means "study my teachings"<ref>Rashi, Gitten 67A</ref>

* The Jews rejected 3 things during the generation of Rechavam:The Rulership of Hashem, the rulership of the House of Dovid and the Beis Hamikdash<ref>Rashi Hoshea 3:</ref>
* All Jews are princes<ref>Mishna Shabbos 14:4</ref>
* Rabbi Shimon says ; there is nothing at all in the world that stands in the way of Teshuva.<ref>Medrash Hanelam in Zohar Chadash, Parshas Berashis Page 19</ref>

==More Photos==
<gallery widths=180px heights=120px perrow=4 caption="Kever Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai Photo Gallery">

File:00000623 cave under kever rabbi shimon bar yochi.jpg
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File:00000621 old gate rashbi meron.jpg
File:00000958 ohel harashbi meron.jpg
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File:00001051 coffee room by rashbi tomb.jpg
File:00001470 ohel rashbi meron.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

{{Kivrei Tzadikim}}

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 ===Zayin Adar===
 Many people visit the tomb of the Rashbi on Zayin Adar for the Hillulah of [[Moshe Rabbenu]] since part of his soul was reincarnated in Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and both of them held the position of the Tzadik Yesod Olam who could associate with all Jewish souls.
-===The Great Collapse===
-For years people from all over the country would travel to Meron for the Hillula on Lag b'Omer. In the early 1900's various secular Russian immigrants began settling in the villages surrounding Meron. They too began coming to the Hillula despite their lack of Torah observance. In 1911 a group mixed singles arrived at the Hillula. Right after the lighting of the customary fire, the girls began to loudly and publicly sing Zionistic songs. At that moment a large wind swept the area, suddenly the upper balcony and wall collapsed throwing all the people and stones at the people who filled the courtyard.<ref>Article from HaYerushalmi Newspaper following the incident</ref>  Ten people were killed and many people were injured. Leading Rabbis quickly pin pointed the reason on the lack of modesty that was occurring at the Hillula and decided to issue a temporary ban on women from visiting Meron on Lag Baomer. Despite the decision, no one had the audacity to publicly declare the ban, until this was done by [[Rabbi Yisroel Karduner]].
 ==Praises==
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-File:00001480 tomb rashbi meron.jpg
-File:00001481 tomb rabbi shimon.jpg
-File:00001482 kever rebbe shimon bar yochai.jpg
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