When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at last emerged from the cave, his body ached.
His son-in-law tended to his sand-scraped flesh.
Rabbi Shimon asked, in turn,
“Is there something that needs repair?”
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May the One who is the Healer of Broken Hearts be with the families of the forty-five people who died on Mount Meron this Lag B’OmerA spring festival. According to tradition, the plague which killed many of Rabbi Akiba's students lifted on the 33rd day of the Omer. Thus, while the Omer is observed as a period of mourning, mourning is lifted on Lag B'Omer. It is a popular day to get married (the only one during the Omer, according to Ashkenazic practice: from that day forward, according to Sephardic and modern liberal practice). The holiday is traditionally celebrated with bonfires, and three-year-old boys receive their first haircut. Today, some three-year-old girls will also have their hair cut amidst celebration on Lag B'Omer..
May their souls ascend in wholeness.
May their memories bring blessing.
May their TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general. shine on.
May the survivors and those who were injured know complete healing.
Wherever we are, may we notice what is in need of repair.
May we bring healing and light.
Names of the victims are published at the Jerusalem Post.
