Shalom [FIRSTNAME],
Tonight marks Lag B’Omer, a minor holiday of mysterious origin in the midst of counting the Omer.
The days of counting the Omer are a period of spiritual eagerness and anticipation. They mark the transition from the rescue from Egypt to the arrival at Mount Sinai to receive Torah, from the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot. But over the long centuries of Jewish history, this period has taken on an aspect of mourning because of a number of tragedies associated with it. The mood changes, however, on the thirty-third day, or Lag B’Omer, (“lag” stands for lamed-gimel, or thirty-three in the Hebrew system of denoting numbers). This minor Jewish holiday is a day of celebration in the midst of the more solemn mood that prevails through the rest of the days of the Omer. Why is this so?
The Talmud records that one year, during the counting of the Omer, twelve thousand pairs of disciples of Rabbi Akiva all died (Yevamot 62b), and on the 33rd day when the deaths ceased. Therefore, the tradition is to refrain from weddings and merriment during this time, until the 33rd day, which is a day of joy.
The day is also linked to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, one of five disciples of Akiva who rose up when the thousands were lost. Bar Yochai and his son, Rabbi Elazar, were forced into hiding by the Romans and were freed on Lag B’Omer. Later, he died on Lag B’Omer, which paradoxically became a day of rejoicing.
In modern Israel, the eve of Lag B’Omer is marked by lighting bonfires, usually made these days of discarded building materials and other scraps. On one of my early visits to Israel, I took a shortcut from the grocery store back to my friend’s apartment. On a bare hillside I noticed the remains of several bonfires—charred boards and piles of ashes. My friend reminded me that a couple of weeks before had been Lag B’omer, and Israeli children are glad to maintain the custom of lighting bonfires that evening.
Various explanations are given for this custom, but since none sounds particularly authoritative – beyond asking what better way there is to rejoice than to light a bonfire after sundown under the summer sky – I’ll venture an explanation of my own. Lag b’Omer marks the two-thirds point through the counting of the Omer, two-thirds of the way between the rescue from Egypt and the arrival at Mount Sinai to receive Torah, two-thirds of the way between the resurrection of Messiah and his outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot.
The counting of the Omer is a time of spiritual intensity, and the great challenge in such times is to lose our concentration. So, Lag b’Omer serves as a reminder to persevere. We’re two-thirds of the way there; let’s go into high gear for the remainder of the journey! Let’s also remember our prayer focus: “Prepare the Way!”
It shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:14-15)
Let's prepare the way in prayer and a humble spirit for the revival that we all need!
Rabbi Russ Resnik
1. Recite the blessing
Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al sefirat ha-Omer.
Blessed are you O Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us concerning the count of the Omer.
Today is day thirty-three, which is four weeks and five days of the omer.
2. Prayer for the day: Abundant resources for the Messianic Jewish community in Israel.
And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Messiah Yeshua. (Philippians 4:19)
3. Put aside a dollar for the Shavuot offering to be shared with the Messianic Jewish community in Israel.
