LAG B'OMER - THE 33RD DAY OF THE COUNTING OF THE OMER

This is not a Biblical holiday, it has its roots in the Talmudic times. During the Omer count approximately 24,000 disciples of Rabbi Akiva – who lived in the latter part of the 1st century and the beginning of the 2nd century – died from a mysterious plague. The Talmud says that this was because “they did not show proper respect to one another.” Therefore this period of time of counting the Omer instead of being a joyous time in anticipation of the Holy Day of Shavuot, became a time of semi-mourning; there are no celebrations, there are no weddings, and one does not even get a haircut – the whole period is characterized by a somber mood.

Except that on the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, Lag (33) B’Omer, (the 18th of Iyar) the plague stopped, therefore, became a joyful day. On Lag B’Omer the prohibitions of the Omer period are lifted. It is a time of dancing and singing. Families go on picnics and outings. Lag B'Omer in Israel is a school holiday. Hundreds of weddings are held adding a festive character of this holiday.

Youngsters and their parents light bonfires in open spaces in cities and towns throughout the country. This is because some say that the disciples of Akiva were killed not by a plague, but in the Bar Kokhba's revolt. They say that the plague was actually the Roman occupation. So, in this context, the lighting of bonfires on this evening signifies the bonfires used in ancient times as signals in wartime. Rabbi Akiva was a major figure in the revolt proclaiming Bar Kokhba to be the Messiah.

This was a pivotal moment in the history of Judaism. The Messianic Jews, up to this point, were not viewed as of a different religion, but of a different understanding within Judaism. But because Rabbi Akiva’s claim, the Messianic Jews could not participate in the revolt knowing that Messiah already came in the person of Yeshua, thus they were rejected by the Pharisee as apostates widening the gap between the two groups until it became foreign for a Jew to believe in or even to talk about Yeshua.

This day, Lag B'Omer, is also the Yahrzeit – the anniversary of the death – of the famous Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai, the Kabbalist, traditionally known as the author of the Zohar. During the Middle Ages, Lag Ba'Omer became a special holiday for rabbinical students and was even called the “Scholar's Festival.” It was customary to rejoice on this day through various kinds of merrymaking.

The Yahrzeit is celebrated with songs and feasting, this being a specific request by Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai of his students. It is a custom at the celebrations in Meron – the burial place – dating from the time of Rabbi Isaac Luria, that three-year-old boys are given their first haircuts, while their parents distribute wine and sweets. Rabbi Isaac Luria lived in the 16th century and it was his teaching from the Zohar that contributed to the fame of the Kabbalistic School in Safed.