It's Lag B'Omer today! But what is it?
Lag ba-Omer is the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, which starts on the second night of Pesach and ends on Shavuot.
The counting of the Omer is a ritual that dates back to ancient times, when the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem. Throughout history, following the tragedies that befell the Jewish people during this period, and particularly the death of 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva from a plague (in the 2nd century CE), these days have become days of national mourning, during which certain prohibitions apply, such as the prohibitions against cutting one’s hair or holding weddings. On Lag ba-Omer these mourning customs are halted, as tradition states that on that day Rabbi Akiva’s students stopped dying. Another significant event that happened on this date is the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi), who was one of Rabbi Akiva’s students.
Lag ba-Omer is also connected with the story of the Bar Kochba Revolt, whose spiritual leader was Rabbi Akiva, and whose military leader was Shimon ben Kosiba (bar Kochba). In the 2nd century CE, some of the Jewish population of Israel revolted against the Roman regime. The revolt, although initially successful, was brutally quashed and wrought great destruction on the Jewish communities in Israel. This was the last period of Jewish independence in the Land of Israel until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. There is some conjecture that Lag ba-Omer marks the temporary victory of Bar Kochba’s men over the Romans.
Lag ba-Omer has become the bonfire holiday, perhaps in commemoration of the signal fires the rebels lit on the mountaintops to relay messages, and perhaps in memory of Rashbi. For weeks before Lag ba-Omer children gather any scrap wood they can find, and on the eve of this holiday large bonfires are lit and potatoes and onions (and now marshmallows, too) are roasted in the flames. So light your bonfires high and enjoy this holiday!
