Spirituality HOLIDAY 101 Lag B'Omer A joyous interlude during the counting of the Omer. p T he 33rd day of the Omer Count — this year May 2 — is a festive day on the Jewish calendar, celebrated with outings (on which the children traditionally play with bow and arrows), bonfires and other joyous events. It is Lag b'Omer. Many in Israel visit the resting place (in Meron in the north) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, whose yahrtzeit the day marks. The rabbi, who lived in the second century, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the Kabbalah. He is the author of the basic work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. On the day of his passing, the rabbi instructed his disciples to mark the date as "the day of my joy:' The chassidic masters explain that the final day of a righteous person's earthly life marks the point at which "all his deeds, teachings and work" achieve their culminating perfection and the zenith of their impact upon our lives. So each Lag b'Omer we cel- ebrate Rabbi Shimon's life and the rev- elation of the esoteric soul of Torah. Lag b'Omer also commemorates another joyous event. The Talmud relates that in the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged among the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva "because they did not act respectfully towards each other." These weeks are therefore observed as a period of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag b'Omer, the dying ceased. Thus, it also carries the theme of Ahavat Yisrael, the imperative to love and respect one's fellow. It is traditional to light bonfires on Lag b'Omer eve. These commemorate the immense light that Rabbi Shimon introduced into the world via his mystical teachings. This was espe- cially true on the day of his passing, Lag b'Omer, when he revealed to his disciples secrets of the Torah, whose profundity and intensity the world had yet to experience. The Zohar relates that the house was filled with fire and intense light to the point that the assembled could not approach or even look at Rabbi Shimon. By far, the largest Lag b'Omer cel- ebration takes place in and around Rabbi Shimon tomb in Meron. Hundreds of thousands attend the festivities. Children customarily go out into the fields and play with imitation bows and arrows. This commemorates the midrashic tradition that no rainbow was seen during Rabbi Shimon's life- time. Rainbows first appeared after Noah's flood, when God promised to never again devastate the world. When the world is deserving of punishment, God sends a rainbow instead. Rabbi Shimon's merit protected the world, rendering the rainbow superfluous. The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged the practice of arranging children's parades on Lag b'Omer in celebration of Jewish unity. In some circles, it is customary to eat carobs on Lag b'Omer. This commemo- rates a lifesaving miracle that Rabbi Shimon experienced. For a period of 13 years, Rabbi Shimon and his son were fugitives from the Roman regime, hiding in a tiny cave in northern Israel. Miraculously, a carob tree grew at the entrance of the cave, providing nour- ishments for its two holy occupants. All the Omer mourning prac- tices are suspended on Lag b'Omer. Permitted are weddings, haircuts, music, etc. F.71 Article courtesy myjewishlearning.com Take advantage of low prices on GRANITE 60 different colors to choose from KEEGO HARBOR, MICHIGAN 48320 248.681.6460 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971 April 29 • 2010 43