Welcome back Mr Echo
Miss de You | 21.05.08 - 12:52 am | #

Oh joy, Aussie Echo is back.
This is an exquisite picture. Anyone who has visited the graves of great rabbis and scholars in Israel (such as the those of the Academy buried in the cemetery of Tiberias) understands the emotion and awe one feels in such a place; how much more so is the sadness for Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai who died tragically as a martyr.
Insider | 21.05.08 - 1:39 am | #

Welcome back, guy.
Greg | 21.05.08 - 2:01 pm | #

Insider, what are you talking about? Rashbi did not die tragically or as a martyr! He died in his own bed, after having taught the Idra, and at his request we celebrate it and call it his "hilula".
wants to know | 22.05.08 - 1:06 pm | #

Yes, you are right. Rabbi Shimon survived 12 years hiding in a cave under threat of death before he emerged to teach kabbalah. His teacher Rabbi Akiva was tortured to death by Romans; 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died in 33 days with the deaths ceasing on Lag b'Omer. A tragic era in Jewish history.
Insider | 22.05.08 - 6:31 pm | #