=Part 2=

Why was there such great anger?

The Rebbe began with a powerful question, that each individual should make a personal reckoning: "A week and a half has passed since this bitter event. Have we been awakened to teshuva and to correct our actions? Is there a change for the better? Did this demand anything of you? Did it awaken anything? Give you any jolt?"

In this context the Rebbe told a story about the holy Tzanzer Rav zy"a, who twice removed a Jew from the beis medrash, once during davening, and as he explained afterwards: "This Jew stood in the beis medrash and watched his davening, and no fear of Heaven gripped him!!"

And with a voice choked with tears the Rebbe said, "...This story is a mussar sefer for the holy site of Meron, the resting place of the holy Tanna R' Shimon bar Yochai. Angels and seraphim tremble before this holy place! And even on the day of the hilula, which is a day of joy, it is also with fear, an aspect of 'and rejoice with trembling'..."

"...True, how beautiful was the sight. Tens of thousands of Jews stood packed together and said the verses of yichud in a loud voice, and with fervor accepted the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, 'Shema Yisroel, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad,' and afterwards they danced the dances of mitzvah, the dances of joy, in honor of the holy Tanna R' Shimon bar Yochai. But I want to ask a question: Can one count the number of smartphones that were there at that time in that holy place?!? Is this how one acquires fear of Heaven?! Is one a tourist who comes to show off and be seen?! With these impure instruments, full of filth and bloodshed, is this instrument brought into the courtyards of Hashem?! And one takes it out without shame in the holy place?! This instrument that uproots every spark of fear of Heaven, this is brought into such a holy place?! How is it possible that in this holy place, which imparts fear of Hashem in abundant measure to those who come to it, one does not himself acquire a little fear of Heaven and shame, so as not to use these instruments there at least??

...In my humble opinion, it was over this that the wrath went out!!! That the holy Tanna says, 'Who asked this of you, to trample My courtyards?' And once permission is given to the destroyer, he no longer distinguishes..."

The Rebbe then spoke at length about the impure devices that bring all the troubles upon Israel, and that one should not use them unless one truly needs it for business, and with a good filter.

The Rebbe then addressed the Jews who did not have these devices there, but said: "...Let us consider the insult to the world, a true personal reckoning: when you came to this holy place, did you rise in fear of Hashem, with holy feelings? Let each person ask himself whether his departure was like his arrival..."

And with a weeping voice choked with tears he cried out, "...R' Shimon demands!! R' Shimon asks, how much fear of Heaven did you receive here? And with what are you traveling home? My teachers and masters, R' Shimon unfortunately has heavy complaints!! Sadly, we have no excuses!! We have nothing to answer him! 'And over this was the wrath!!' That R' Shimon says, 'Who asked this of you?' for you come to me empty-handed and travel home just as you came, without any elevation in fear of Hashem..."

The Rebbe then described the greatness of R' Shimon, whose holy influence has no limit and reaches the entire world. Accordingly, R' Shimon also asks the Jews outside Eretz Yisroel who gather and rejoice in his simcha, how have they been elevated? He spoke about how everyone must make a true personal reckoning in all matters, and in particular spoke about women's hair, regarding which the holy Zohar is very strict and uses very sharp language, literally curses, Heaven forbid. "...One connects to the holy Tanna, and is not careful that his home be pure of this matter?! I ask: does he hope to merit a blessing from R' Shimon, or the opposite, Heaven forbid? How can one merit a blessing from the holy Tanna if his holy words are taken lightly and make no impression..." The Rebbe then spoke about how R' Shimon follows thought, so let us accept upon ourselves now, and in that merit halt the fierce anger, and he bestowed holy blessings.

After the derasha the Rebbe davened Maariv with a large crowd in the great beis medrash.

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