Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Greatness of Shimon Bar Yochai?

In an attempt to explain why the yartzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is a day of celebration and festivities, Rabbi Ari Enkin gives this reason (without attribution):
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai specifically promised that he would advocate in Heaven on behalf of klal yisrael every year on his yartzeit and to have them saved from every trouble and woe. Since we are confident that Rabbi Shimon will certainly be successful in his mission, it is a day worthy of celebration.
Looking at the past 2000 years of Jewish history, can there be a greater case of cognitive dissonance than such a belief? If Rashbi did indeed claim this, why is he not seen as a charlatan?

5 comments:

Undercover Kofer said...

Well you could always argue that he prevented many occasions of misfortunes. Like tefillah: you can be successful and still the answer would be no.

My gosh, this whole Rashbi thing is too superstitious for words!

Frum Heretic said...

Starting with him being the author of the Zohar...

Shilton HaSechel said...

i guess rabbi enkin would say
"think how bad things would be if he didn't advocate for us"

i wonder what rabbi enkin thinks "advocating in heaven" means? Does he think shimon bar yochai changes God's mind? hmmmmmm

Danny said...

Frum Heretic--do you have an email address where one can contact you?

Frum Heretic said...

Yep, as per my profile it is frumheretic at gmail.