Like every year, I participated in the celebration of the divine Tanna Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Mount Meron.
It was impossible not to feel the holiness and exaltation in the air: tens of thousands of the people of Israel came every year to pray at the grave of the Rashbi, from all the sects, from all the circles that exist in the people of Israel. I saw the unity and beauty of our people.
The families who come up with baskets in their hands with a Rotel for distribution on the mountain; the man with a beard and curly sideburns who wants to distribute to the celebrants on Mount Rugalach; the man with the knitted kippah who came from one of the settlements in Samaria and serves cold drinks to anyone who wants them; the large hospitality tents where hot meals are served to anyone who wants them. There's even dessert after the meal.
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The old woman from Dimona who walks slowly up the mountain while muttering a silent prayer.
I also saw the guy who improvised a cardboard kippah and with great effort made his way through the crowds, just to reach and place his hand, even for a few moments, on the tomb of the holy Tanna.
Yes, I also saw the circles of the dancers to the tunes of the uplifting song in the Hasidic syllable in honor of the Tanna God Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. It was impossible to miss how colorful the circles were: shtreimels, Torah children's hats, knitted kippahs, and yes - even cardboard kippahs. It was moving to see everyone in wonderful unity, joining hands, rejoicing and dancing in honor of the tzaddik's revelry.
I was very moved by the beauty and unity of the people of Israel, despite the heat, the pressure, and the crowding. Everyone was truly happy, standing close together and bowing in the open spaces.
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On my way back home, I prayed to myself: May this unity I saw there on the mountain continue even after everyone returns home, that they may increase in love for Israel, in helping others, in praising one another, always finding the virtues of the other - and as they say: seeing the glass half full.
After all, no one is perfect, it will always be possible to find shortcomings, there is always room for improvement, but one must always be happy with what one has, and know how to accept others.
Wisdom and understanding is to strive to find the good in every Jew. We are all sons of one man, sons of our father Abraham.
If we are wise and united, our enemies will not be able to stop us, and if we are wise enough to take with us the Rashbi's celebration and translate it into practice throughout the year in unity without disputes, this will be our reward, and thanks to this, a Redeemer will come to Zion.
