Rabbi Shimon on RNN Eyewitness News

This Friday we celebrate ‘Lag BaOmer’, one of the reasons of the celebration is the Yortzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who passed away on this day, and asked that it be a day of celebration and happiness. The following is but one story of his extraordinary life.

Good evening and welcome to the RNN eyewitness news.
Our top story today: Back from the dead; an amazing story of a rabbi and his son returning from nowhere after 13 years! With us is our reporter Julius. Julius?
Julius: Thank you Augustus. This truly is an amazing tale. 13 years ago a Jewish Rabbi named Rabbi Shimon was given the death sentence for decrying the Roman Empire. Somehow he managed to escape before the execution, and was never heard of since.
And now he’s back! And he is with us here today at the studio.Welcome, Rabbi Shimon, we’ll start with the question that is on everyone’s mind: Where have you been?
Rabbi Shimon: Not too far from here. I hid in a cave in the mountains, together with my son Eliezer.
J: Hmm… I would like to check that out. Sounds like an extended summer vacation.
R S: Not exactly… actually to give an example or our lifestyle, let me just say, that because we didn’t have a change of clothing, we usually covered ourselves up to the neck in mud, besides the times we had to pray…
J: Oh no! what about food and drink?
R S: It’s funny that you ask, we really didn’t know how we would survive, but our G-d made a miracle and a carob tree grew just outside the cave. And next to it a river of water just sprung up from the ground…
J: I’ll have to believe you on that one. Anyway enough with the past, what are your plans for the future?
R S: Well I was just told of a certain road, about which there are rumors that it might contain human remains, making it impure and therefore illegal for Kohanim or priests to walk on. Those poor men have to take another side route which makes their walk a few minutes longer, so I intend to investigate the matter and work out a solution.
J: Um… excuse me Rabbi; did I just hear you correctly? After 13 years away from your family, students and community, you simply have nothing to do, but to work out some tiny inconvenience for only a small segment of your community? Are you sure that 13 years in the cave haven’t mixed up your priorities?
R S: A goyishe kup! How can I explain to you the great merit in helping even one Jew with something seemingly small and insignificant! There is a statement that says, 1 “A Jew lives for 70, 80 years just to do a favor for another Jew!” J: Truly an eternal message for all time. Anyway, great to have you with us. We wish you much luck in all your projects. Arrivederci!
Agustos: Thank you Julius! Now for our survey: what are the chances of surviving 13 years in a cave covered in dirt, eating carob and drinking water? You can vote on our website…

1 It was said 2000 years later by the holy Baal Shem Tov, but it was in the hearts and minds of the Jewish people since the beginning.

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