# Lag B'Omer: The Life & Miracles of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai [Short & Sweet Inspiration] Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe-675642/lag-b-omer-the-life-miracles-of-rabbi-shimon-bar-yochai-short-sweet-inspiration Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe-675642/lag-b-omer-the-life-miracles-of-rabbi-shimon-bar-yochai-short-sweet-inspiration.md Podcast: [Jewish Inspiration Podcast · Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe](https://stenobird.com/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe-675642) Published: 2026-05-04T07:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/12b616cd Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.transistor.fm/12b616cd/2ca855ef.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe-675642/episodes/lag-b-omer-the-life-miracles-of-rabbi-shimon-bar-yochai-short-sweet-inspiration Duration seconds: 1889 ## Resource In this special Lag B'Omer episode of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast, Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe celebrates the 33rd day of the Omer (18 Iyar) as the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi), one of the greatest Tanaim and author of the Zohar. The Talmud hints to him via “Hamin ha’etz” (same letters as Haman) from the Tree of Knowledge—both represent focusing on what we lack instead of appreciating what we have. Rashbi’s life story includes: Student of Rabbi Akiva; one of five who re-established Torah after the plague that killed 24,000 students. Hid in a cave for 12 years (with his son Elazar) surviving on carobs and water, studying Torah with Eliyahu HaNavi—emerging with unparalleled mystical wisdom. His teachings emphasize loving fellow Jews, the power of a good name, and the three crowns (Torah, priesthood, royalty), with the crown of a good name excelling above all. Customs for the day include bonfires (commemorating his fiery spirit and the heavenly fire at his funeral), bows and arrows (no rainbow appeared in his lifetime, symbolizing high spirituality), music, outings, haircuts for three-year-olds, and charity at his gravesite in Meron. The rabbi highlights Rashbi’s power to free the world from judgment and the immense merit of praying at his tomb. _____________ Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Studio B to a live audience on May 9, 2023, in Houston, Texas. Released as Podcast on May 9, 2023 _____________ Listen, Subscribe & Share: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1476610783 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4r0KfjMzmCNQbiNaZBCSU7 ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at aw@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________ About the Host: Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director o… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe-675642/episodes/lag-b-omer-the-life-miracles-of-rabbi-shimon-bar-yochai-short-sweet-inspiration/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/jewish-inspiration-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe-675642/lag-b-omer-the-life-miracles-of-rabbi-shimon-bar-yochai-short-sweet-inspiration.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.