Rashbi • Bar Yochai • Ben Yochai • Rabbi Shimon • Butzina Kadisha
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
Era of the TannaimRabbi Shimon bar Yochai, known by his acronym Rashbi, was one of the leading sages of the fourth generation of Tannaim and among the most prominent disciples of Rabbi Akiva. Born in the Galilee at the dawn of the second century CE, he was drawn as a young man to Rabbi Akiva's aca…
Biography
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, known by his acronym Rashbi, was one of the leading sages of the fourth generation of Tannaim and among the most prominent disciples of Rabbi Akiva. Born in the Galilee at the dawn of the second century CE, he was drawn as a young man to Rabbi Akiva's academy in Bnei Brak, where he immersed himself in both the written and the oral Torah. After the devastation of Rabbi Akiva's earlier students in a plague, Rashbi was among the five new disciples whom Rabbi Akiva ordained, together with Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Judah, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua. His figure is woven through every stratum of Torah — law, lore and mysticism — and Jewish tradition regards him as the author of the Zohar, although modern scholarship assigns the work to a much later period. His passing, traditionally observed on Lag BaOmer, was fixed as a day of joy and hillula, and his grave in Meron, in the Galilee, is a major pilgrimage site.
Life Story
Childhood
Rabbi Shimon was born in the Galilee toward the end of the first century CE, the son of Yochai. His childhood unfolded under Roman rule in the Land of Israel, when the authorities persecuted the study of Torah and the observance of commandments. Later traditions offer several names for his mother, while the Zohar hints that he grew up in a home of reverence and learning.
Teachers
His principal master was Rabbi Akiva, with whom he studied for a long period in Bnei Brak; Rabbi Akiva testified that he had a disciple quicker to grasp than them all. He also heard Torah from Rabban Gamliel of Yavneh, from Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya and from Rabbi Yehuda ben Bava. Rashbi often praised his master, saying: I learned Torah from my teachers, and from my colleagues more than from them, and from my students more than from them all.
Students
From his academy came important disciples, among them his son Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Shimon ben Yehuda, Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi — the redactor of the Mishnah — Rabbi Zutra, Rabbi Elazar ben Yehuda of Bartota, Yehuda ben Gerim and Rabbi Yonatan ben Asmai. Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi, counted among his greatest students, honored him greatly and called him simply Rabbi.
Family
His father was Yochai. His son, Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon, was his disciple and companion in study in the cave; his daughter married Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair. Later traditions give his wife the name Sarah, and several sources mention his father-in-law Yossi ben Lakonya the priest.
Key Events
The formative event of Rashbi's life was his stay in the cave. After he spoke critically of the Romans, the matter was reported to the authorities and he was sentenced to death. Rashbi and his son Rabbi Elazar fled and hid in a cave for thirteen years, studying Torah day and night. After the decree had passed they left the cave, but when they saw people engaged in worldly labor a heavenly voice sent them back for another year.
Miracles
During the years in the cave a miracle was performed for them: a carob tree and a spring of water were created, and from them Rashbi and his son were sustained. Their garments wore out from constant sitting, so that they would bury themselves in sand up to the neck while studying. When they emerged, whatever Rashbi looked upon would catch fire, and healing came only after they bathed and were restored.
Influence
Rashbi's influence is felt in every stratum of Torah. In law his name appears throughout the Mishnah and the Talmud, and the halakhic midrashim Sifrei and Mekhilta de-Rashbi are attributed to his school. In the mystical tradition he is regarded as the author of the Zohar, and in its literature he is called Butzina Kadisha — the holy lamp. His figure stands at the center of the esoteric tradition, and the day of his passing — Lag BaOmer — was fixed as a day of joy and hillula.
Death
According to tradition, Rashbi passed away on Lag BaOmer (the 18th of Iyar), and his burial place is in Meron in the Galilee. On the day of his passing it is customary to hold a hillula — a day of joy and pilgrimage — and to light bonfires in his memory. Other traditions for his burial place, such as Biriya and Kfar Hananya, have been suggested, but the accepted identification since the Middle Ages is Meron.
Writings
Sifrei
2nd century CEHalakhic Midrash
A halakhic midrash on the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy, attributed to the school of Rashbi, containing halakhic and aggadic interpretations of the verses.
Mekhilta de-Rashbi
2nd century CEHalakhic Midrash
A halakhic midrash on the book of Exodus, attributed to the school of Rashbi. Scholars suggest that parts of it were incorporated into the known Mekhilta de-Rabbi Yishmael.
Sefer ha-Zohar
Tradition: 2nd century; Scholarship: 13th centuryKabbalah and Mysticism
According to Jewish tradition, composed by Rashbi and his disciples; modern scholarship attributes it to Rabbi Moses de Leon in 13th-century Spain. The book is the cornerstone of the esoteric tradition and Kabbalah.
His Way and Views
Torah Study
Rashbi regarded the study of Torah as the supreme and constant value. In the cave he studied day and night, and sayings are attributed to him that exalt those engaged in Torah to the highest degree. His famous teaching — the Torah was given only to those who cultivate souls — teaches that Torah rests upon one who nurtures souls and multiplies disciples.
Halacha
Rashbi's rulings are woven through the Mishnah, the Tosefta and the Talmud. He is inclined to leniency in some matters and to stringency in others, and his disputes with his colleagues — Rabbi Judah, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Meir — form the foundation of many halakhic discussions. The works Sifrei and Mekhilta de-Rashbi are attributed to his school.
Faith
Rashbi stood firm on the unity of God and His constant providence, and the Zohar describes spiritual unfoldings in the supernal worlds. He believed that every detail of reality is bound to its supernal root, and that the study of Torah elevates the worlds and sweetens the judgments.
Ethics
His sharp criticism of the Romans and of every corrupt regime attested to his moral outlook. At the same time, he learned from his master Rabbi Akiva that beloved is man, created in the divine image, and that every person must be seen as a divine creation.
Customs
Several popular customs are tied to Rashbi, first among them the lighting of bonfires on Lag BaOmer — a custom rooted in the joy of the hillula of his passing. Some are accustomed to ascend to his grave in Meron, to light candles and to pray.
Character
He was described as holy, devoted and courageous. He did not shrink from speaking truth before a cruel regime, yet at the same time was humble and grateful. He repeated: I learned Torah from my teachers, and from my colleagues more than from them, and from my students more than from them all.
Public Role
Rashbi struggled against the persecuting Roman regime and insisted on the observance of Torah and commandments even in hiding. His figure became a symbol of steadfastness of spirit against the rule of matter.
Famous Quotes
"The Torah was given only to those who cultivate souls"
"Wherever Israel strayed from their path, upheaval came with them"
"I learned Torah from my teachers, and from my colleagues more than from them, and from my students more than from them all"
"Israel receive Torah only from one who teaches it in His name"
Famous Stories
After Rashbi spoke critically of the Romans, the matter was reported to the authorities and he was sentenced to death. He fled and hid with his son Rabbi Elazar in a cave. A miracle was performed for them: a carob tree and a spring of water were created, and from them they were sustained for thirteen years. All those years they did not cease from Torah study, and their garments wore out from constant sitting, so that they would bury themselves in sand up to the neck to cover themselves while studying.
After the decree had passed, Rashbi left the cave. He saw people plowing and sowing and said: They forsake eternal life and occupy themselves with temporal life! A heavenly voice went forth and said: Have you come out to destroy My world? Return to your cave! And they returned and stayed in the cave for another year. When they came out again, everywhere Rashbi set his eyes burned, until a heavenly voice said: Have you come out to destroy My world? Go out! And they went out.
It is told that after Rashbi left the cave, whatever he looked upon would catch fire. At that time the sages prepared a bathhouse, and Rashbi and his son stayed there on Friday eve, close to the onset of Shabbat, and their bodies were healed and their skin restored. Since then Friday eve was established as a time of healing and rest.
Students
Teachers
Grave Site
Timeline
Birth in the Galilee
Study under Rabbi Akiva in Bnei Brak
Concealment in the cave after the Roman decree
Emergence from the cave and return for another year
Passing in Meron on Lag BaOmer
Legacy
Rashbi's legacy touches every stratum of Judaism: in law — through the works attributed to his school; in lore and ethics — through his sayings quoted in every generation; and in mysticism — through his figure as the author of the Zohar, the cornerstone of the esoteric tradition. The day of his passing, Lag BaOmer, was fixed as a day of joy and hillula, and the bonfires of Lag BaOmer lit throughout the Jewish world recall the fire of holiness that burned in the cave and in his academy.