Lag B'Omer

The "Omer" is the period of seven weeks between the bringing of the Firstfruits on the morrow of the Sabbath after Passover, and Shavuot (also called the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost). The Omer period has been observed in rabbinic Judaism as a time of semi-mourning since the second century A.D.. in memory of a devastating plague which killed thousands of the disciples of Rabbi Akiba during the Bar Kochba revolt. Ordinarily, celebrations and haircuts(!) are avoided during this period, but on the 33rd day of the Omer these prohibitions are lifted, because the plague in Akiba's camp was lifted on that day during the revolt.

The "Lag" in Lag B'Omer represents the number 33. Every letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value. The letter Lamed has the value 30, and Gimel has the value 3, so "33" is written by placing these two letters together. Since these symbols are letters as well as numbers, when pronounced the result is "Lag".

Children in Israel have this day off from school. Bow and arrow contests are held as a reminder of the bows and arrows displayed by the students of Rabbi Simeon Bar Yohai, to show they were not just students of books! Bonfires are lit all across the countryside. Omer restrictions are also lifted on Yom Ha'Atzmaut and Jerusalem Day.

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