Rabbi Akiva was a fervent supporter of the Bar Kochba rebellion and thousands of his students were part of the rebel forces. The rabbis (in Yevamot 62b) explain that Rabbi Akiva’s students died during this time “because they did not treat each other with respect.” Meanwhile, historians connect this calamity with Simon Bar Kochba’s revolt against the Romans (in 132 – 136 CE). We are reminded that Passover started the process of redemption, but that it was not complete until we received the Torah.Īccording to the Talmud ( Yevamot 62b), this period is generally a time of sadness because - approximately two thousand years ago - twenty-four thousand of Rabbi Akiva’s students (twelve thousand pairs of hevruta, Torah study partners) died of a plague between Passover and Shavuot. What is the Omer and why do we count the days?Ĭounting the omer reminds us of the link between Passover (celebrating the Jewish people’s miraculous exodus from Egypt) and Shavuot (commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai). This year, the Israeli government approved new safety regulations to ensure this does not happen again. In the worst peacetime disaster in Israel’s history, 45 people were killed and at least 150 people were injured when a stampede broke out at the celebration. In 2021, this turned out to be a horrific nightmare. In Israel, many celebrate by lighting bonfires and having barbecues to symbolize the light that Shimon Bar Yochai brought into the world.Įach year on this day, to celebrate his legacy, hundreds of thousands of Jews from all over the world visit his tomb in the northern Israeli town of Meron for singing, dancing and merrymaking. Key features of Lag BaOmer include Jewish weddings and getting haircuts. Some Jews also attribute Shimon Bar Yochai with the authorship of the Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalah (mystical Judaism). Lag BaOmer is a break in this period of sadness - it is a happy occasion when the mourning practices are lifted.Īccording to Kabbalistic tradition, the day also marks the anniversary of the death of the great second-century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (also known as the Rashbi). The Omer period is a time of sadness, during which weddings, parties, live music, dancing and getting haircuts are generally forbidden (read more about this below).
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