One of the songs that discuss Reb Shimon Bar Yocahi’s praises is “Bar Yochai” – “the son of Yochai.”  Why don’t we call Reb Shimon by his name?  Why does this song call him by his father’s name?

Perhaps it’s to remind us that Reb Shimon was a human being, born from human parents.  He wasn’t a malach.  And just as he reached very high levels, we can reach high levels too if we follow in his footsteps. ~ R’ Elimelech Biderman Shlita