How will you Celebrate Lag Ba’omer?
Lag Ba’omer this year starts on the evening of 15th May and continues throughout 16th May. It is celebrated on the 33rd day of the Omer (the 49-day period of counting between Pesach and Shavuot, marking the transition from the Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai).
It is a joyous Jewish holiday commemorating the end of a plague that struck Rabbi Akiva’s students during the Omer and marking the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a revered sage and mystic and the author a foundational text of Kabbalah.
Lag Ba’omer is a time of celebration, with traditions including:
Bonfires: In modern Israel, the holiday is mostly marked with bonfires which symbolise the flames of the signal fires from the great revolt that took place in the 2nd century when many of Israel’s Jewish population revolted against the Romans.
Picnics and outings: It’s a day for festive outings and picnics, with families and friends gathering to celebrate.
Haircuts: For some Orthodox Jews, Lag Ba’omer is the day when boys who have reached the age of three receive their first haircut, as haircuts are not permitted during the Omer period.
Weddings: Jewish weddings are permitted on Lag Ba’omer, as it marks a break from the semi-mourning period of the Omer.
What is the symbolism of Lag Ba’omer?
Lag Ba’omer symbolises the triumph of good over evil and the study of Jewish learning and mysticism.
How will you celebrate Lag Ba’omer?