Celebrating Lag b’Omer

Rabbi Ammos Chorny

The forthcoming celebration of Lag b’Omer, which relates events that occurred about 2,000 years ago, when Jews were forbidden to study Torah or practice Judaism, is celebrated on the 18th of the Hebrew month of Iyar, corresponding to the 33rd day of counting the Omer. During the Second Temple period, we are told Rabbi Akiva counted thousands among his disciples, of which 24,000 died in an epidemic. This sad event took place during the 49 days of the Omer; however, on the 33rd day, the plague abated.

Further, Lag b’Omer marks the passing of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, said to have revealed fundamental teachings of Jewish Mysticism … and so, Lag b’Omer has become a day of joyous celebration.

Despite the Roman prohibition, Rabbi Akiva was determined to keep the Torah alive. The legend holds that Rabbi Akiva instructed his students to dress up as hunters and pretend they were going hunting (with bows and arrows). When the Romans saw them, they would think nothing of it, allowing them to meet their master in a cave deep in the woods.

Similarly, Shimon Bar Yochai — Rabbi Akiva’s leading student — continued to oppose the Romans. As a result, he endured persecution in his attempt to ensure the Torah would not be forgotten. The Romans decreed a death sentence against him, forcing him to go into hiding. With his son, Elazar, Rabbi Shimon fled to a cave in the northern region of Israel, where a miracle occurred and, along with a stream of water, a carob tree sprouted in the cave, allowing the two men to survive.

Rabbi Shimon and his son remained in the cave for 12 years, concerned with nothing but Torah study. Finally, Elijah the prophet came to the cave and announced that the Caesar had died, and the decree against the Rabbi was lifted.

If Lag b’Omer marks Rabbi Shimon’s death, why is it a celebration? As the Romans convicted him of a capital crime, by all rights, he should have died well before his time. Yet, through tremendous self-sacrifice and a series of miracles, he lived out a full life, the climax of which was the revelation of great secrets. All this is cause for celebration!

Traditionally, Lag b’Omer is celebrated with the lighting of bonfires, commemorating a great fire that surrounded Rabbi Shimon during his revelatory trance and his passing. The day is also one of pilgrimage to his resting place in the Galilee town of Meiron, where it is estimated more than 250,000 visitors gather to remember and celebrate his spiritual gifts.

Since haircuts are not permitted during the Omer period, another tradition associated with Lag b’Omer stems from the custom among Chassidic Jews, who do not cut the hair of their children until reaching the age of 3, to use this joyous day to give the boys their first haircut.

There is disagreement about the mourning period that anticipates Lag b’Omer, as well as the day itself. For some, Lag b’Omer is only a cessation in the mourning period, which carries on once the day is over. For others, who question the veracity of the facts and reasons given, all mourning practices are terminated, and weddings and all other celebrations are reinstated. This last point of view is supported by Rabbi Joseph Caro (author of the Code of Jewish law), who believed the mourning period should end 15 days prior to Shavuot, hence, Lag b’Omer would be the final day of mourning. Since the establishment of the Modern State of Israel in 1948, many consider this a moot point, and disregard all mourning practices following Yom Ha’Atzmaut.

My best wishes for a joyous and revitalizing Lag b’Omer celebration!

Rabbi Ammos Chorny serves at Beth Tikvah.