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What Is Lag B'Omer?
Lag B'Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer count — is a festive day on the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated with outings (on which the children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron, northern Israel) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in the second century of the common era, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the “Kabbalah,” and is the author of the basic work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. On the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon 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 BaOmer, we celebrate Rabbi Shimon’s life and the revelation of the esoteric soul of the Torah.
Lag BaOmer also commemorates another joyous event. The Talmud relates that in the weeks between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuos, a plague raged amongst the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva, because they did not act with enough respect towards each other, concerning the explanations of what they were learning. These weeks are therefore observed as a period of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag BaOmer the deaths ceased. Thus, Lag BaOmer also carries the theme of the imperative to love and respect one’s fellow.
Lag B'Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer count — is a festive day on the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated with outings (on which the children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron, northern Israel) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in the second century of the common era, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the “Kabbalah,” and is the author of the basic work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. On the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon 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 BaOmer, we celebrate Rabbi Shimon’s life and the revelation of the esoteric soul of the Torah.
Lag BaOmer also commemorates another joyous event. The Talmud relates that in the weeks between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuos, a plague raged amongst the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva, because they did not act with enough respect towards each other, concerning the explanations of what they were learning. These weeks are therefore observed as a period of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag BaOmer the deaths ceased. Thus, Lag BaOmer also carries the theme of the imperative to love and respect one’s fellow.
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So interesting report Fun, joy, colored way of life Great job Congrats
helys · 2012-05-16: 08:47
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Beautiful post Leah!! Thanks for sharing.
nynkeb · 2012-05-16: 08:48
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you have such a knack for these, fabulously done!!!
urmysunshine · 2012-05-16: 09:43
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Thanks for sharing. :-)
angil · 2012-05-16: 09:56
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Wonderful post and beautifully done !!
Dropblue · 2012-05-16: 10:41
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Nice posting
digitalideas · 2012-05-16: 11:01
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very cool idea......nice job !
qsilver1 · 2012-05-16: 11:51
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It looks like a lot of fun Leah.
stabeez · 2012-05-16: 11:55
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love these collages
jennyLit · 2012-05-16: 17:39
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Excellent collages !!
finbarr · 2012-05-16: 18:01
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