Lag BaOmer 5786: Tens of Thousands Celebrated the Hillula of Rashbi with The Rav

The "Shuvu Banim International" website presents to you a review of what was done and heard by our teacher, the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, on Lag BaOmer 5786.

The Central Lighting with The Rav shlit"a

Tens of thousands of our followers participated in the central lighting of our holy community, which took place this year along HaChoma HaShlishit Street in Jerusalem.

Upon learning of the cancellation of the lightings in Meron, the "Ichud Chasidei Breslov Shuvu Banim" organized to prepare the lighting in Jerusalem. Despite all the last-minute pressure and the shortage of equipment on such a busy day—with abundant Siyata Dishmaya (Heavenly assistance), the uplifting event took place in the best possible way.

Immediately upon the conclusion of the Maariv (evening) prayer, the pouring of oil onto the bonfire began by all of our followers, who strengthened the organizers and participated in the massive expenses of the event. In the background, melodies of awakening and preparation for the lighting were played.

After a long hour, The Rav shlit"a entered and lit the bonfire in honor of the Godly Tanna, Rashbi. The music—composed entirely of our community's Torah scholars under the direction of the wonderful singer R' Yosef Ernesty, may Hashem protect and sustain him, the Shuvu Banim choir, organist Shmuel A. Mendelovich, and clarinetist Avihu Abuchatzeira—burst into the lively, jumping songs of Meron, "In honor of the Godly Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai."

The Rav shlit"a danced with might, immense strength, and tremendous joy. The entire crowd of thousands and tens of thousands, spread across HaChoma HaShlishit Street and the adjacent streets, jumped and danced in the joy of Rashbi. The joy skyrocketed, and The Rav shlit"a even danced alone with all kinds of dances and infinite joy. It is impossible to measure or describe the intensity of the joy and the light we merited by the grace of Heaven in the joy of Rashbi on this holy day. Fortunate are we to have merited this!

The Chalakah Children

During the day of Lag BaOmer, the Chalakah (Upsherin) children went up to have their hair cut in the inner sanctum with The Rav shlit"a.

Shooting the Bow and Arrows

At the conclusion of the Hillula, The Rav shlit"a fulfilled the custom of shooting the bow and arrows.

The Journey to the Tziyon of Rashbi in Meron

Immediately upon the conclusion of the lighting, thousands of our followers set out with tremendous mesirus nefesh (self-sacrifice) toward the holy site of Meron, to the tziyon (gravesite) of the Godly Tanna, Rashbi. Below is documentation from the journey.

Photography: Mekusharim LaTzaddik