On the Giant’s Shoulders

An address to children on Lag B’omer, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s Yahrzeit: We’ve gathered together on a joyous day, a day which Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai called, “the day of his rejoicing.” He requested that all Jews rejoice on this day, in his times, and in all generations to follow.

This itself empowers us. Certainly, we cannot compare ourselves to the great Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai. But Rabbi Shimon himself has the strength to empower his whole generation and all subsequent generations – just like a giant can lift up a little child and set the child high up on his shoulders. The giant takes his own strength and invests it in the little boy or girl. The child need only utilize that strength – with joy, as Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai showed us. Then, just like the little child sitting on the giant’s shoulders, the Jewish boy or girl can see very far and reach very high, no matter how little he or she may be on their own.

Rabbi Shimon explains the verse, “G-d will return with your exiles…” G-d Himself is waiting for every Jew to take each and every individual one out of exile, as it is written, “I shall gather you one by one.” Then, and only then, will G-d Himself leave exile.