Best Meron Pilgrimage Podcasts (2025)

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20. How Did Rebbe Shimon Come into the World? 42:05

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2M ago42:05

42:05

Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai didn’t just appear—he arrived, against all odds, as a soul born of impossible tefillos and impossible beginnings. In this stirring Lag BaOmer teaching, Rav Shlomo Katz channels the fiery words of Rav Elimelech Biderman, uncovering how Rebbe Shimon’s birth was not just a moment in time but a statement from Heaven: Am Yisrael …

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19. Do You Want the Lollipop or the Crown? 25:00

2M ago25:00

25:00

Lag BaOmer marks a shift from the sweetness of redemption to the maturity of purpose. Rav Shlomo Katz brings Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev to the center of the circle, showing how our journey from Egypt wasn’t about fireworks—it was about getting to Sinai. Are we still chasing the lollipop of past miracles, or ready to wear the crown of where we’r…

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18. As Rebbe Shimon Began Revealing the Secrets of the World 49:53

2M ago49:53

49:53

What filled the room the moment Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai began to ascend? In this luminous Lag BaOmer teaching, Rav Shlomo Katz brings us into Rashbi’s final hours where fire returned, the Shechinah hovered, and the secrets of creation began to flow. As tzaddikim from Gan Eden filled the space, only a few were allowed to stay. Why? Because being pre…

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17. Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai and I 43:05

2M ago43:05

43:05

Why do I, today, have any connection to Torah, to mitzvot, to Yiddishkeit at all? In this soul-stirring Lag BaOmer teaching, Rav Shlomo Katz reveals the secret behind Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai’s audacious promise: that Torah would never be forgotten. Through the words of Rebbe Nachman and the fire of Rashbi, we discover that our very longing to stay …

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16. Rebbe Akiva & The Hidden Heart of Lag Ba’Omer | 7 minutes of Halacha and Pnimiyut 7:01

2M ago7:01

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Why does Rebbe Akiva, the great teacher of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai, seem to vanish from Lag Ba’Omer? In this powerful reflection, Rav Shlomo Katz uncovers the silent, burning presence of Rebbe Akiva—the tzaddik who rebuilt from unimaginable loss. Beyond the bonfires and dancing lies a deeper flame: the strength to start again when all feels lost. R…

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15. Fire, First Haircuts, and the Flame of Kavod | 6 minutes of Halacha and Pnimiyut 6:42

2M ago6:42

6:42

Why do we light bonfires on Lag Ba’Omer? Why do children receive their first haircut at Rashbi’s kever? In this soul-stirring teaching, Rav Shlomo Katz unpacks the fiery legacy of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai—whose final moments were surrounded by literal flames and eternal light. From the passion of Torah to the holiness of our first mitzvahs, this epi…

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14. The Cave, the Fire, and the Cost of Truth | 8 minutes of Halacha and Pnimiyut 8:43

2M ago8:43

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Why did Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai retreat to a cave, and what does that story demand of us today? In this 8-minute teaching, Rav Shlomo Katz unpacks the holy defiance of Rashbi: a man who refused to compromise, whose words scorched falsehood, and whose cave became a furnace of Torah. As Lag Ba’Omer approaches, we’re called to examine our own idols of…

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13. When a Soul Marries Heaven | 6 minutes of Halacha and Pnimiyut 6:03

2M ago6:03

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What makes Lag Ba’Omer a celebration, not a eulogy? In just six minutes, Rav Shlomo Katz uncovers the mystery of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai’s final day—not as an end, but as a wedding. From the fire that surrounded his home to the secrets he revealed only on his last breath, we enter the deepest joy of closeness: רוחא ברוחא, soul to soul. It’s a day w…

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12. Preparing for Lag Ba’Omer’s Light | 7 minutes of Halacha and Pnimiyut 7:06

2M ago7:06

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In just seven minutes, Rav Shlomo Katz weaves halacha and inner world—charting the shift from mourning to joy on Lag Ba’Omer. Why did the students of Rebbe Akiva stop dying? What changed on this day? With depth, warmth, and a nod to Rashbi’s eternal light, we explore the halachic roots and spiritual awakening that makes Lag Ba’Omer a gateway from g…

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11. Rebbe Shimon's & Rebbe Nachman's Responsibility 52:06

2M ago52:06

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What does it mean to take responsibility for the eternity of Torah? In this Lag Ba’Omer shiur, Rav Shlomo Katz brings us into the fiery soul-connection between Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai and Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. On the eve of Rashbi’s day, we uncover how these two giants bound by name, mission, and essence, shoulder the promise that Torah will ne…

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10. Lag Ba'omer: Holiday of the Humble Ones 37:54

2M ago37:54

37:54

In this soul-gentle teaching from the Chortkover Rebbe, Rav Shlomo Katz reveals the hidden healing of Lag Ba’Omer: a fire that humbles instead of burns. Through stories of tzaddikim and the senses they sanctified, what they saw, what they heard, we learn how Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai continues to refine us. This is the holiday of the quiet-hearted, t…

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9. Meron Meets Uman | Rebbe Shimon & Rebbe Nachman 43:18

2M ago43:18

43:18

What happens when Meron meets Uman? In this Lag Ba'Omer shiur, Rav Shlomo Katz journeys into Rebbe Nachman’s opening words in Likutei Moharan, where the soul of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai is revealed as the secret guarantor of Torah’s eternal fire. Through niggun, story, and soul, we uncover how these two tzaddikim are forever bound—lighting our path …

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8. Preparing for Rebbe Shimon | Look Into My Eyes 43:17

2M ago43:17

43:17

How does one arrive ready for Lag Ba’Omer? Rav Shlomo Katz, honoring his grandmother’s yahrzeit, draws from Rav Elimelech Biderman’s text to guide us. Like Shabbos, preparation unlocks Rashbi’s light. This lesson urges vulnerability—look into a friend’s eyes, embrace love—to reveal Torah’s secrets, weaving Am Yisrael’s souls into a radiant, unified…

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6. Rebbe Shimon with Aharon Hakohen 47:52

2M ago47:52

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Based on the teachings of Reb Tzvi Meir Seilberberg, Rav Shlomo Katz stands humbled as Lag Ba’Omer nears, its vastness overwhelming yet holy. This lesson unveils a hidden Yom Kippur purification, linking Rashbi’s secrets to Aharon Hakohen’s hod—glory of love and unity. With niggunim, it whispers: one turn toward Hashem ignites your soul’s light, pr…

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7. Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai... Here We Come 16:36

2M ago16:36

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A 16-minute journey begins—Rav Shlomo Katz invites us into Lag Ba’Omer’s magic from Eretz Yisrael. As half a million souls gather in Meron, this lesson unveils a secret gate: connecting to Rashbi’s spirit through his teachings, with niggunim guiding us. It calls for consistency in seeking Torah’s depth, awakening Am Yisrael to the day’s radiant mys…

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5. How did Rebbe Shimon Leave this World? 34:48

2M ago34:48

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The Zohar whispers Rashbi’s luminous departure, a tale of secrets revealed as he left this world, preparing us for a deeper Lag Ba’Omer.By Rav Shlomo Katz

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4. Shouldn't Lag Ba'Omer Be More About Rebbe Akiva? 33:39

2M ago33:39

33:39

What is the nature of the simcha that dances on Lag Ba’Omer? Rav Shlomo Katz probes—shouldn’t Rebbe Akiva, whose students’ tragedy ends, shine brighter? Yet, Rashbi’s light ignites this joy.By Rav Shlomo Katz

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3. The Glow of Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai 1:01:59

2M ago1:01:59

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The sefira of the 33rd night of the Omer is Hod Shebahod—let’s unravel why. Rav Shlomo Katz honors his Holocaust-survivor grandmother on her yahrzeit, her triumph echoing Rashbi’s radiant promise. With niggunim, this lesson builds vessels for love and commitment, revealing Lag Ba’Omer’s glow—where secrets of Torah, spoon-fed nightly, awaken Am Yisr…

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2. Rebbe Shimon, How Do I Continue Your Promise? | Learning on Har Meron 41:14

2M ago41:14

41:14

Rav Shlomo Katz stands humbled in Meron, where Rashbi’s spirit whispers an eternal promise: Torah will never fade from Am Yisrael. Drawing from Rebbe Nachman through Rav Yaakov Meir Shechter, this shiur from 9 Tevet 5778 reveals speech as our sacred lifeline—holy words that pierce through the silence of galut. With niggunim echoing through the hill…

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1. How Much Do We Like Each Other? 33:46

2M ago33:46

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Rav Shlomo Katz explores his personal connection to Lag Ba’Omer, overcoming intimidation of Rashbi and the Zohar. Based on Rav Erez Moshe Doron’s teachings, he delves into “anachnu b’chavivuta talya”—the power of liking each other—linking it to Rashbi’s legacy, the bonfires’ unity, and the sweetening of mourning. With niggunim, this episode ignites…