Lag BaOmer

Lag BaOmer, minor Jewish observance falling on the 33rd day in the period of the counting of the ʿomer (“barley sheaves”), a period of semi-mourning that lasts for the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. On the Jewish calendar, the holiday falls on the 18th day of the month of Iyyar (April or May). On this day the semi-mourning ceases and weddings and haircuts, otherwise forbidden among observant Jews during this time, are allowed. Practitioners also light bonfires to celebrate this festive holiday. The name of the holiday derives from the period of counting barley sheaves (ʿomer) and lag comes from the Hebrew numerals for 33, which is represented by the Hebrew letters lamed (ל; l) and gimel (ג; g).

History

The origin of the Lag BaOmer festival is obscure. Among many traditions, one holds that manna first fell from heaven on this day. Another tradition claims that a plague that raged among the followers of Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef during the counting of ʿomer ceased on this day. A further tradition holds that the great rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a student of Akiva, died on Lag BaOmer. Shimon is credited with writing the Zohar, the principal work of Kabbala (Jewish mysticism), for which he is highly revered and contributes to the significance to the holiday’s celebration.

Celebrations

For Lag BaOmer, Orthodox Jews and Hasidic Jews by the thousands make a joyous pilgrimage to the burial site of Shimon in Meron in Upper Galilee, Israel. As part of the celebration, young boys after turning 3 receive their first haircuts (a practice called in Yiddish opshern), and celebrants also play with bows and arrows. The bows and arrows are said to symbolize the rainbow as the Hebrew word qeshet applies to both the weapon and the meteorological phenomenon. According to some rabbis, rainbows are regarded as signs of God’s divine punishment, but no rainbow was seen during the meritorious lifetime of Shimon, who died on Lag BaOmer. Other rabbis understand the bows as symbolizing the rainbow that, according to a passage from the Zohar, will herald the coming of the messiah. The festivities in Meron also include singing and dancing around bonfires on the eve of the holiday. The bonfires represent, according to some Hasidic interpreters, Shimon’s spiritual brilliance in writing the Zohar.