What happens when you spend so long in your own head—or your own cave—that it’s hard to come back to real life? In this session, we’ll explore a powerful Talmudic story about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a mystic who returns to the world after years of isolation and intense spiritual focus in a cave. As we approach Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer, a day traditionally linked to his story, we’ll ask: What can Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's return to the world teach us about resisting the pull of ideological purity and the challenge of reintegrating into community, without compromising one's personal standards? What does his struggle to rejoin society reveal about the tension between personal standards and communal life? And how do we stay true to our values without scorning those who live differently?

No prior knowledge needed—just curiosity and a willingness to dive into a very old story with surprisingly modern resonance.

Rabbi Dina Brawer, a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, serves as the inaugural Executive Director for World Jewish Relief USA. She brings to her international humanitarian work a decade of work advocating for women at the intersection of religion and gender as the founder of JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance) in the UK.

Prior to relocating to the USA, she spent two decades serving the London Jewish community; teaching Jewish text, curating meaningful and accessible Jewish experiences. She is the producer of #YourTorah, a Mishnah podcast taught entirely by women, and PrayerFull: the guided prayer podcast.