Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai
 | |
| Hebrew: | |
|---|---|
| רבי שמעון בר יוחאי | |
| Other Names: | |
| The Rashbi, Rebbe Shimon ben Yochai | |
| Spelling: | |
| Yochi, Simeon, Yohai | |
| Kever: | |
| Meron | |
| Hillula: | |
| Lag Baomer = 18th of Iyyar | |
| Description: | |
| 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 Rebbe Elazar, hiding in a 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 one 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.
Cave of Rabbi Shimon
The cave where Rebbe Shimon hid with his son is located in Peki'in.
More Photos
- Kever Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai Photo Gallery
