This Tanna has a Yom Tov (holiday) all his own that all Yidden keep. The question is (still) only why (exactly).
1. RaShBI (5766). The Tzaddik who insisted his histalkus (passing) be a great joy and merited to have his desire continued for nearly two millenium. Some details about this extraordinary Tanna based on a series of Maamrei ChaZal. This class blends together history, stories and detailed references to the RaShBi’s Torah. Note: Thank you to a listener for sending in the following helpful comments. 1. It was not Choni HaMaagel whose house collapsed. The Gemara in Ta’anis tells this story about Nachum Ish Gam Zu. He was blind lacking hands and feet, covered in boils, lying in a ruinous house, with his bed placed in water-jugs to prevent ants reaching him. His students wanted to rescue him from the house and then his vessels. He told them to save the vessels first as it was his merit that was keeping it from collapsing. As soon as they took him out, the house collapsed. 2. Because R. Avrohom HaLevi said Nacheim on Lag BaOmer, his son (not he) died within the month.
2. His Birth and “Cave experience” (5769). (Based on the sefer Nachalas Avos and the Gemara in Shabbos 33b). NOTE: There is a mistake in this class: Yehuda Ben Geirim didn’t actually go and inform the authorities. He simply shared it with his students and family members (Rashi). Word eventually reached the authorities. He is perhaps guilty for having a lack of discretion. [Submitted by M.H.].
3. His holy Histalkus (passing) (5768). The Idra Zuta relates how RaShBI actually planned and orchestrated his holy soul’s ascent into heaven. In this class we study inside the (beginning and end of) the text from the Idra Zuta that describes this last meeting with his disciples where the deepest secrets of the Torah were revealed. RaShbI returned his soul to his maker in the “fire” of this Torah. Note: There is a mistake in this class: The Gemara states explicitly that Talmidei R. Akiva died from askara (a natural illness). Thus, the Talmidim’s death by a natural means isn’t speculative but explicitly stated in the Gemara. [Submitted by M.H.].
1. RaShBI (5766)2. His Birth and “Cave experience” (5769)3. His holy Histalkus (passing) (5768)
