B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 18, 5780 / May 12, 2020 (33rd day of the Omer)
Today (Tuesday)is Lag B’Omer – the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. “Lag” is a combination of two Hebrew letters, Lamed & Gimel which spell Lag. Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value; Lamed = 30 & Gimel = 3. Together they add up to 33. Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer.
Q. What is the significance of this day?
A. On Lag B’Omer we celebrate two historical events: 1) A plague, which took the lives of 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students, stopped on this day. (May today’s plague end on this day too)
2) Today is the day of passing (known as "Hillula") of the Talmudic sage and mystic, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai - commonly called by the acronym of his name; Rashbi. He is buried, together with his son, Rabbi Elazar, in Miron, Israel.
It is a very joyous day, especially in Israel where hundreds of thousands of people visit Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s burial place in Miron and rejoice there with lighting bonfires, singing and dancing. The day is also celebrated with picnics, bonfires and mock bow-and-arrow playing. This year unfortunately, due to the corona virus the celebrations are very restricted.
Q. Why is the day of Rabbi Shimon’s passing a joyous day?
A. On the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon revealed to his disciples the deepest secrets of the Torah and the mystical teachings of Kaballah. On his last day he accomplished the greatest level of holiness one can accomplish. Rabbi Shimon instructed his disciples to mark this day as "the day of my joy."
Q. Why are bonfires lit in honor of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai?
A. The Zohar says that on the day Rabbi Shimon died, a great light of endless joy filled the day because of the Torah secrets he revealed to his students. The sun did not set until Rabbi Shimon had revealed all that he was allowed to. As soon as he was done, the sun set and he died. A fire surrounded the house, preventing anyone, but his closest students from approaching. This is the basis for the custom of lighting bonfires on Lag B'Omer.
The following parable by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is worth remembering. A boat filled with people was sailing. One of the passengers took a sharp tool and began to bore a hole under his seat. The others started shouting, "What are you doing? Stop!"
The man replied, "What business is it of yours? I am boring a hole under my seat!"
The other passengers replied, "Fool! Don't you realize that by boring a hole under your seat, you will flood the boat and we will all drown!"
"Similarly," says Rabbi Shimon, "one must remember that every act we do affects not only us but the entire world!" This lesson is so actual today as we see how unfortunately one person can spread the virus to so many. On the other hand, it teaches us how important and wonderful each mitzvah is, for it affects so many.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL LAG B’OMER DAY