YOSSI: What does Rabbi Shimon have to do with Meron?
YOELI: My rebbe told me that Meron is the same letters as rimon; a pomegranate, because Reb Shimon revealed that every Yid is full of mitzvos like a rimon!
YOSSI: It’s true. Whenever you go, especially on Lag BaOmer, there are so many different-looking Yidden all connecting to Reb Shimon!
YOELI: On the last day of Reb Shimon’s life, he revealed many secrets of the Torah. When he was niftar, people from many towns in the Galil argued that Reb Shimon should be buried in their town. Then Reb Shimon’s bed lifted off the ground and – in a ring of fire – flew him to Meron!
YOSSI: So that settled it! Ha ha!
YOELI: There is a cool story in Shemos Rabbah. A talmid of Reb Shimon left Eretz Yisrael and came back with a lot of money. The other talmidim were jealous. Reb Shimon filled the valley near Meron with gold dinarim for them, but warned, “Just know any of the gold you take will come out of your reward in Olam Habah!
YOSSI: Wow! Because every penny that a person makes was meant for him! What a great lesson in Emunah!
YOELI: Yes! Reb Shimon is not the only tzadik in Meron though! Some people still live in Meron today, and there are many other kevarim in Meron as well, including Hillel, Shammai, Reb Yochanan HaSandler and, of course, Reb Elazar ben Reb Shimon and more!
YOSSI: I can feel the fire already, Yoeli!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 33 Red Shayele Yahrtzeit Edition.