At a Lag BaOmer shiur delivered tonight, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein addressed the current security situation that has prevented travel to Meron this year, offering a chizuk-filled perspective: Even if we cannot go to Rashbi, Rashbi can come to us.

Speaking at his weekly shiur in the central bais haknesses of Ramat Elchanan, Rav Zilberstein opened by stressing the greatness of the day. “Baruch Hashem, we have reached a very great day, Lag BaOmer,” he said. “A day that is capable of many good things. Chazal greatly praise this day, and all those who know how to be mispallel on this day and perform maasim tovim on this day — Chazal greatly praise them.”

He went on to reflect on the situation facing Klal Yisroel. “Today we are in a matzav where not all the nations of the world are with us. Many are against us in a major way. But we rely on HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and we direct our tefillos that they should ascend upward, be’ezras Hashem, and that we should merit the special segulos that HaKadosh Baruch Hu granted us for this day, Lag BaOmer.”

Rav Zilberstein then shared a powerful teaching he once heard from his father-in-law, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Referring to the long-standing minhag of traveling to the kever of Rashbi in Meron, he recalled asking whether Rav Elyashiv would go.

“There were always those who traveled to Meron. Today there is no Meron — that is not a simple thing,” Rav Zilberstein said. “I once heard from my father-in-law, Maran Hagaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l. I asked him if he was traveling to Meron, and he told me a sharp line: ‘Why do I need to go to Meron? Rashbi comes to me…’”

He continued with the explanation he heard: “‘Why are you asking me if I will go to Meron? What do you mean? I use every moment for limud haTorah — and instead of me going to him, he comes to me.’”

Rav Zilberstein explained that the meaning is clear: “Rabi Shimon bar Yochai comes to someone who learns his Torah. That is what Rav Elyashiv meant — I learn his Torah, and he comes to me to hear how I am learning it.”