What Is Broken That I May Fix It?
Tech Tribe Dispatch #300
💡 Think:
Today is Lag BaOmer, among other things, the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimeon bar Yochai, the author of the Zohar.
The Talmud1 recounts a fascinating episode in Rabbi Shimeon’s life:
”Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Yose, and Rabbi Shimeon were sitting, and Yehudah, a son of proselytes, was sitting near them.
Rabbi Yeudah commenced the discussion by observing, "How fine are the works of this people [the Romans]! They have made streets, they have built bridges, they have erected baths."
Rabbi Yose was silent.
Rabbi Shimeon bar Yohai responded: "All that they made, they made for their own benefit. They built market-places, to set harlots in them; baths, to rejuvenate themselves; bridges, to levy tolls for them."
Yehudah the son of proselytes went and related their talk, which reached the government. They decreed: "Yehudah, who exalted us, shall be exalted, Yose, who was silent, shall be exiled to Sepphoris; Shimeon, who censured, shall be executed."
Rabbi Shimeon and his son went and hid themselves in the study hall, and his wife brought him bread and a mug of water and they dined. When the decree became more severe... they went and hid in a cave.
A miracle occurred and a carob-tree and a wellspring of water were created for them. They would remove their garments and sit up to their necks in sand. The whole day they studied; when it was time for prayers they robed, covered themselves, prayed, and then put off their garments again, so that they should not wear out. Thus they dwelt twelve years in the cave.”
During this time, Rabbi Shimeon and his son explored the foundational teachings of Kabbalah. When they at least emerged the shock of reintegrating in the physical world, after years of spiritual ascent, was intense:
“Seeing a man ploughing and sowing, they exclaimed: "They forsake eternal life and engage in temporal life!" Whatever they cast their eyes upon was immediately incinerated.
A heavenly echo came forth and announced: "Have you emerged to destroy My world? Return to your cave!"
So they returned and lived there another twelve months…”
After that addition 12 months, they once again left cave.
It was the eve of Shabbat and they saw an old man carrying two bundles of myrtle and running right before the start of the Sabbath day. "What are these for?" they asked him. "They are in honor of the Shabbat," he replied…
Said Rabbi Shimeon to his son: "See how precious are the mitzvot to people of Israel." Thereupon their minds were put at ease…
Rabbi Shimeon said: Since a miracle transpired for me, I will go and repair something for the sake of others in gratitude for God’s kindness… He said: Is there something that needs repair? They said to him: There is a place where there is uncertainty with regard to ritual impurity and the Kohanim are troubled by being forced to circumvent it…”
Rabbi Shimeon indeed helped them find a path they could take.
Think for a moment about what happened here - Rabbi Shimeon spent 13 years in spiritual ecstasy - but his experience was not complete until he could center his vision and purpose on helping someone else - not just something major, but on the very act of making their life just that much better.
🏃 DO:
🍷Join us for an al fresco feast, drinks and the Ten Commandments, as we celebrate Shavuot! Shavuot: Al Fresco Feast & Torah Experience on Sunday,June 02.
🔓 NY Tech Week: AI + TORAH — ARTIFICIAL WISDOM - #NYTECHWEEK on Thursday, June 5, 6pm.
🌇 Startup Shabbat Shabbat Dinner with Brex for #NYTechWeek on Friday, June 6th.
🎤 We're going to be sharing details about our Talk with Sasha Troufanov, the Amazon employee who was hostage in Gaza for 500 days in the coming days.
Sasha and his partner Sapir Cohen will be speaking the evening of Wednesday, June 11th!
Our Chai Society members will get first access for tickets.
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📚 Read:
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🔥 Lit:
This week, light Shabbat candles in NYC at 7:49 PM
For Shabbat candle-lighting time in your area click here.
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