The central lighting with the participation of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a ○ Fiery dancing—flames of joy that burst all boundaries—in honor of the G-dly Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai zy"a ○ Nearly two hours of Shacharis facing the holy site of Meron

With Hashem’s help, this year as in previous years, on the 18th of Iyar—Lag BaOmer night—the main hilula took place at the holy site of Meron, organized by the institutions of “Breslov Shuvu Banim – Nechamas Tzion,” with the participation of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and in the presence of thousands of people from every background and community. Here is an overview of the most joyous hilula in honor of the G-dly Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai zy"a:

The hilula began already with the Maariv prayer in the plaza of the prayer hall. As on every evening, The Rav shlit"a left his home for Maariv and the counting of the Omer, accompanied by singing and niggunim for more than an hour and forty minutes, with tremendous vitality. Many also came from outside the city to take part in this Maariv and Omer-counting—especially significant on Lag BaOmer, the day of the hilula of the holy Rashbi. After Maariv, The Rav continued at length with the niggunim of the counting, especially with the melody of “And through this, abundant shefa will be drawn down in all the worlds.” After the counting, The Rav shlit"a delivered a brief talk about the greatness of Rashbi and the greatness of the day of Lag BaOmer.

Afterward, all of Anash set out from 22:00, traveling by the buses arranged by the “Shuvu Banim Nechamas Tzion” institutions toward the holy site of Meron. This year the hilula took place in the expanded hilula complex—89—allowing ample space for dancing and singing. At 03:00 they began pouring oil onto the bonfire for the lighting in honor of Rashbi. At 4:15 they began niggunim of deep feeling and awakening in honor of the holy Rashbi.

The Rav shlit"a arrived in Meron this year, as last year, by helicopter to the holy city of Tzfas. After an unexpected technical delay, The Rav shlit"a arrived at the hilula complex at 4:40 and entered his room. A few minutes later, at 4:50, The Rav shlit"a came out and went up to the lighting area. First, he poured oil—holy anointing oil—over the lighting, and afterward he lit the torch with great splendor and honor in tribute to the G-dly Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. In an instant, joy burst forth from every heart among the thousands—men, women, and children—who had come to participate in the central lighting, singing “In honor of the G-dly Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.” It is impossible to describe or even estimate the magnitude of the joy and dancing that took place this year in Meron. After a few minutes in which The Rav shlit"a danced with a small group of gabbaim and close attendants, The Rav shlit"a left the circle and began dancing alone—like fire and flame—with awesome and tremendous vitality, as the joy soared to the heavens!! The Rav shlit"a danced this way for nearly an hour, jumping and clapping, and from the sheer joy The Rav shlit"a took hold of his hat and tossed it into the air several times—and all of Anash followed after him. A mighty joy that surely sweetened all judgments, and will sweeten even more in the merit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai zy"a.

After exactly fifty minutes of dancing—precisely at sunrise—they began the morning melodies, as The Rav shlit"a and the entire crowd wrapped themselves in tallis and were crowned with tefillin. After the morning zemiros came Korbanos and Pesukei d’Zimra—the entire prayer in its proper order. In particular, The Rav shlit"a extended the singing of “Lamenatze’ach b’Neginos” for about twenty minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood with the shtender facing the public; wherever one stood in the complex, one could see the radiance of his holy countenance. Throughout the entire tefillah, The Rav enlivened the immense crowd with his holy movements—with awe and with joy. After Pesukei d’Zimra, the blessings of Yotzer Or were all sung with niggunim, and during Krias Shema The Rav shlit"a was heard clearly over the loudspeaker throughout the expanded hilula complex. It should be noted that this is the only Shacharis in the hilula complex that is conducted in an official manner. After Shemoneh Esrei, The Rav shlit"a led the chazaras hashatz with all the niggunim, with very great vitality. After the conclusion of the prayer, The Rav shlit"a began singing “Baruch Hu Elokeinu…” and “Hu Yiftach” for several minutes with singing and dancing. Immediately afterward, he began reciting The Tikkun HaKlali facing the holy site of Meron in the expanded hilula complex, together with all of Anash from across the country, and with all of Am Yisrael who came to celebrate and rejoice in the joy of Rashbi. After The Tikkun HaKlali, The Rav shlit"a shot one arrow with the bow that was brought to him, and afterward he descended back to his home—his holy and pleasant dwelling. It should be noted that The Rav shlit"a, as on the way there, also returned this time to the holy city of Jerusalem by helicopter; however, due to the security situation he landed in Herzliya, and from there traveled by car to his home—his holy and pleasant dwelling—in Jerusalem, may it be rebuilt and established speedily in our days.

Raise up the stature of our congregation—through the merit of our master, Bar Yochai!!

Before you is a breathtaking photo gallery from the entire hilula of the G-dly Tanna, at the Shuvu Banim lighting with the participation of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a — “Keren HaTzaddik” Institute: