By revealing the P’nimius haTorah, Rabi Shimon made us fully aware that we need only to look within ourselves to find a roaring fire, a G-dly soul, thirsty for true meaning and a burning desire for the Divine. Lag Ba’omer is a day on which we can fan those inner flames until they become an enduring source of warmth and light, able, then, to ignite and illuminate the way for others as well. And that is something to celebrate.
Banim Atem LaMakom – We are all Hashem’s Children. This special tefillah reinforces this powerful idea, and is a timely reminder of the awesome relationship and responsibility that we share with our Father in heaven.
This Aramaic introduction to kriyas haTorah – sung in an ancient, emotional tune – has uplifted Jews through hundreds of years of persecution and exile, reminding us of our glorious status as the Am HaNivchar, and of the eternal nature of the Torah and the Jewish people.
The truth is, this poignant poem is more than words, more than prayer, more than music – but rather a delicate, enduring fabric woven from them all.
Much like a chuppah represents the creation of an infinite bond between bride and groom, the Mishkan was where the connection between Hashem and Am Yisroel was created and preserved. However, within the command itself, Hashem gives us an eternal education – it is one of, if not THE most fundamental concepts in Avodas Hashem.
We sometimes convince ourselves that Hashem is too busy running the world to listen to us, with our trivial requests and inadequate praise and thanks… He’s got bigger things to worry about these days, right? Actually, we couldn’t be more wrong. We are Hashem’s children and we must know without a doubt that we are being heard – and not only that – but are being answered as well!
Chazal compares Tu b’Av to Yom Kippur! Tu b’Av is a day of renewal of ties among the nation, just as Yom Kippur is a day of renewal of our ties to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The common denominators between Tu b’Av and Yom Kippur are love, acceptance and forgiveness.