Volume 6, Issue 8 May 2019 Iyar 5779 which together have)ג(, and gimel)ל( Pesach Sheni 2019 is observed on May 19 ters lamed (14 Iyar). the numerical value of 33. “BaOmer” means “of It is customary to mark this day by eating mat- the Omer.” The Omer is the counting period that z a h — if possible — and by omit- begins on the second day of Passover and culmi- ting Tachanun from the prayer services. nates with the holiday of Shavuot, following day 49. How Pesach Sheni Came About Hence Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the Omer A year after the Exodus, G‑d instructed the peo- count, which coincides with 18 Iyar. What hap- ple of Israel to bring the Passover offering on the pened on 18 Iyar that’s worth celebrating? afternoon of the fourteenth of Nissan, and to eat it that evening, roasted over the fire, together with What We Are Celebrating matzah and bitter herbs, as they had done the pre- Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in the sec- vious year just before they left Egypt. ond century of the Common Era, was the first to “There were, however, certain persons who had publicly teach the mystical dimension of become ritually impure through contact with a the Torah known as the Kabbalah, and is the au- dead body, and could not, therefore, prepare the thor of the classic text of Kabbalah, the Zohar. Passover offering on that day. They ap- On the day of his passing, Rab- proached Mosesand Aaron . and they said: bi Shimon instructed his disciples to mark the date ‘. Why should we be deprived, and not be able as “the day of my joy.” to present G‑d’s offering in its time, amongst the The chassidic masters explain that the final day of children of Israel?’” (Numbers 9:6–7). a righteous person’s earthly life marks the point at In response to their plea, G‑d established the 14th which all their deeds, teachings and work achieve of Iyar as a “Second Passover” (Pesach Sheni) for their culminating perfection and the zenith of anyone who was unable to bring the offering on their impact upon our lives. So each Lag BaOmer, its appointed time in the previous month. we celebrate Rabbi Shimon’s life and the revela- tion of the esoteric soul of Torah. What Pesach Sheni Means Lag BaOmer also commemorates another joyous The day represents the “second chance” achieved event. The Talmud relates that in the weeks be- by teshuvah, the power of repentance and tween the Jewish holidays “return.” In the words of Rab- of Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged among bi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, “The Second the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Aki- Helping INDividuals AscendHelping INDividuals Passover means that it’s never a ‘lost case.’” va (teacher of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai), “because they did not act respectfully towards Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer each other.” These weeks are therefore observed count—this year, May 23, 2019—is a festive day as a period of mourning, with various joyous ac- on the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated with out- tivities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag ings (on which children traditionally play BaOmer the deaths ceased. Thus, Lag BaOmer with bows and arrows), bonfires, parades and oth- also carries the theme of loving and respecting er joyous events. Many visit the resting place one’s fellow (ahavat Yisrael). (in Meron, northern Israel) of the great sage and How Is Lag BaOmer Celebrated mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary Since this is the day of joy of Rabbi Shimon bar of whose passing is on this day. Yochai, there are major festivities in Meron, the What It Means mountain village in northern Israel where he is Lag BaOmer is always on the 18th day of the buried, with tens of thousands of pilgrims pouring month of Iyar. So what’s up with the name? The in from all corners of the world to rejoice together word “Lag” is made of of the Hebrew let- in unity. Monthly Newsletter Monthly THE HINDA INSTITUTE Continued on back page Page 2 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Jewish Story affected by the mention of some Rebbe's name? The woman had spoken with a Russian accent so Mrs. Estulin took the cue and By Rabbi Tuvya Bolton asked her in Russian, with as friendly a smile as she could muster Mrs. Raizel Estulin o.b.m. the mother of Rabbi Naftali Estulin in up, how she knew the Rebbe. L.A. California had recently arrived in Israel from Russia when she The woman first apologized for her outburst, tears began to fill her got a chance to visit the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York. eyes and after she calmed down and dried them she began her story It was a lifetime opportunity and without hesitation she took it. In about her brother. Russia there were Chassidim that only dreamed of seeing the Reb- In Russia she and her brother had been very close. When they were be in person but never thought it would actually happen. There children their parents passed away and all they had in the world was were times that if someone succeeded in smuggling just a picture of each other. the Rebbe into Russia the Chassidim would make a minor celebra- tion. Her brother eventually attended medical school in Moscow, gradu- ated with honors and became a very successful doctor, almost the A few weeks later her dream came true; she was standing before head of an entire department in a hospital. But his wage was pitiful. the Rebbe in his office in 'Yechidut' (private audience) and it was Barely enough to live on and certainly not fitting for a doctor. infinitely more than she ever dreamed of. So he decided to try to get out of Russia. He had heard that in The Rebbe asked her many questions about her family, the situa- America, the land of opportunity, he could earn a fortune. There, it tion in Russia and her transition to Israel and after giving her many was said, doctors were in great demand and he would become rich blessings added that when she returned to Israel she should devote and respected. So some five years ago he decided to make the big time to the Shabbat Candle Campaign (going out to encouraging move with the idea that and as soon as he was settled he would call Jewish women to light Shabbat candles). for her to join him. But Mrs. Estulin explained that she hadn't yet gotten used to the But he got a cruel surprise. Hebrew language and was very afraid that she wouldn't be under- stood or even might be misunderstood in the anti-religious attitude When (after much red tape and frustration getting out of Russia) he that prevailed in Israel. arrived in the Land of Opportunity he discovered that no one and no job was waiting for him. But the Rebbe just smiled and said, "You do what you have to and if anyone every gives you problems, just tell them that you are a All the hospitals he went to for work turned him flat down; his Chassid (follower) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe". degrees and experience in Russia meant almost nothing. He would have to go to university for at least another year in order to get a She returned to Israel inspired by the Rebbe's blessing and just a job anywhere… but he had no money for that. In fact, he barely day after she arrived, which happened to be Friday, she threw cau- had money for rent. tion to the winds and went to a local hospital with some other Cha- bad women; going from room to room, patient to patient passing He tried for several months to find some sort of hospital work or out Shabbat Candles. make some sort of connections or to find any sort of work at all, but with no success; he didn't know English well enough, he was But, as fortune would have it, she met up with exactly the wrong too old, he was unexperienced etc. until he began to give up. person. In another few weeks his money would be gone… then what The patient was a mean looking lady in her mid-sixties and the would he do?! He came on a one-way ticket and in any case before moment Mrs. Estulin entered the room her eyes narrowed and she leaving Russia he had to forfeit his citizenship and most of his pos- angrily snapped "What do you want here? Not here! You're in the sessions. He had no where to go, no friends, no job and soon… no wrong room!" money or place to sleep. She replied, "I have Shabbat Candles if you would...." He became depressed and his depression only brought more disap- The woman's face turned scarlet with anger, she sat up in bed and pointments. He aimlessly wandered the streets until he felt he was began to yell, shaking her finger in the air, "You get out! You reli- going insane. He simply couldn't take life any longer. gious people are all parasites! Superstitious rodents! Vermin!!! You After several sleepless nights he decided there was no solution oth- hear me!!? Get out of MY ROOM!!!" er than….. (G-d forbid) the worst. Mrs. Estulin jumped back in shock! This was exactly what she was It was early Sunday morning.