B"H

Friday, Iyar 18, 5785 (33rd day of the Omer) / May 16, 2025

Today is Lag B’Omer. It is the day of passing of the great Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.

Also, on this day a plague which took the lives of 24,000 students of the great sage Rabbi Akiva stopped. Thus, it is a very happy and joyous day in the Hebrew calendar.

In Israel, especially in Miron, where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was laid to rest, there are hundreds of thousands of people celebrating on this day his illustrious life and his great accomplishments.

Rabbi Shimon lived in Israel at the time when the Romans occupied it. The decrees against Jews were harsh. Rabbi Shimon spoke out against the Roman government and as a result he was sentenced to death. He and his son, Rabbi Eliezer, hid in a cave for 13 years. No one knew where they were.

G-d performed a miracle, and a carob tree grew at the entrance of the cave and a spring of water sprung up there, which supplied them with sustenance for all those years.

When they came out of the cave and Rabbi Shimon’s father-in-law saw him and realized how much he suffered, he said, “Wow is to me that I see you so physically run down.” Rabbi Shimon replied, “Fortunate that you see me like this.” Rabbi Shimon and his son, during these thirteen years of physical suffering, attained great highs in their Torah and holiness which no one else was able to achieve.

Q.Why is the day called Lag B’Omer? 

A. “Lag” is a combination of two Hebrew letters, Lamed & Gimmel which spell Lag.  Each Hebrew letter has a numerical value; “Lamed” = 30 & “Gimel” = 3.  Together they add up to 33.  Lag B’Omer is on the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. It is a day of joy and festivities, where children are taken out on parades and outings.

Rabbi Shimon was a student of Rabbi Akiva. It was Rabbi Akiva who said that “Love your fellow like yourself,” is one of the greatest mitzvot in the Torah.

Rabbi Shimon said: “There are three crowns: the crown of the Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of royalty; But the crown of a good name excels above them all.”

Q.   Why are bonfires lit at Rabbi Shimon’s gravesite and throughout Israel in his honor on this day?

A.   The Zohar says that on the day of Rabbi Shimon’s passing, 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 passed away.  A fire miraculously 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. May their memories be a blessing.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 8:02 / Shabbat ends: 9:15

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW