- While the Torah describes the period of the Omer between Pesach and Shavuot as a happy time, a sad event transformed some of this period into one of sadness.
- Rabbi Akiva, who was one of the greatest Rabbis and who lived during and after the destruction of the second Temple, had 24,000 students. Tragically, they ‘all died in a short period of time because they did not treat each other respectfully’. In commemoration of this tragedy, it is customary to avoid public expressions of happiness during this period.
- For example, it is customary not to marry during this period, or to cut one’s hair, to dance or listen to music. However, many authorities explain that Rabbi Akiva’s students ceased dying after 33 days. Therefore, these minor mourning customs are lifted on the 18th of Iyar (which is Lag Ba’Omer’ which means ‘the 33rd day of the Omer’); and on this day, it is customary to have a haircut, listen to music and dance. Many people also choose to get married on this day (NB. some Sefardim take a stricter position and wait until the 34th day to have haircuts).
- A further reason for joy and happiness on Lag Ba’Omer is due to the fact that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who became a student of Rabbi Akiva after this tragic event, died on Lag Ba’Omer. While the date when someone dies is generally a sad day, this day is different because Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai chose to teach many of the Torah’s deepest secrets (which were subsequently recorded in the Zohar) to his students just before he died. We therefore call a day when we remember a holy person a אָלּוּל ִה. Because the holy Torah that was taught by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was likened to fire, it is customary to build bonfires on Lag Ba’Omer.
- Additionally, our Sages teach that during the lifetime of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, no rainbow was seen in the sky. This is because a rainbow reminds us that God will not bring more punishment to the world, and while he was alive, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai had sufficient merit that God did need to teach this message. In light of this, it is customary for children to play with a bow (keshet) and arrow (chetz) on Lag Ba’Omer. Finally, many have the custom to visit Mount Meron on Lag Ba’Omer which is where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Elazar are buried.
RABBI AKIVA
- Rabbi Akiva wasn’t always religious. When he was young, ‘Akiva’ used to make fun of Rabbis
- At age 40, he met a beautiful woman called Rachel with whom he fell in love
- Rachel agreed to marry Akiva on condition that he agreed to study Torah
- Rachel and Akiva married, despite Rachel’s father disapproving of their marriage, and they had a son.
- Some time later, Akiva saw a well and asked ‘who hollowed out this rock?’ and was told ‘it was the water that constantly fell upon it’. He then replied, ‘is my head harder than a rock? I will go and learn at least one section of the Torah’.
- Akiva then went to the schoolhouse where he and his son began learning together.
- Akiva continued to learn Torah and eventually he became the great Rabbi Akiva.
- Many students came to learn from Rabbi Akiva, and he soon became the teacher of 24,000 students.
- Sadly, the students of Rabbi Akiva did not show respect to each other, and they all died in a plague during the Omer period which begins on the second night of Pesach. Because of this, we perform some minor mourning customs during this period to express our sadness such as not have weddings, not cutting our hair and not dancing or listening to music.
- On Lag Ba’Omer, the plague stopped and Rabbi Akiva began to find new students to teach Torah. On this day it is therefore customary to have weddings, to cut our hair and have parties where music is played and where dancing occurs.
RABBI SHIMON BAR YOCHAI
- Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai became a student of Rabbi Akiva after a plague killed all of Rabbi Akiva’s other students, and he learnt with Rabbi Akiva for 13 years.
- Although Rabbi Shimon’s father who was called ‘Yochai’ helped the Roman government, Rabbi Shimon opposed the Romans. Because of his opposition, he was condemned to death by the Roman authorities.
- Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai escaped with his son Elazar. They first hid in the Torah academy, but once they realised that they were still in danger, they went into hiding in a cave.
- While in the cave, they were miraculously fed. Carob trees grew in the cave where they were hiding, and a spring of water also appeared.
- In order to preserve their clothes, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Elazar dug a hole and buried themselves in sand, up to their neck, and they only put on their clothes when they needed to pray.
- During this time, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai learnt the mysteries of the Torah. Because he was a very holy man, we are told that no rainbow was seen in the sky because a rainbow reminds us that God will not bring more punishment to the world, and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was so holy that God was not going to bring punishment to the world during his life.
- After 12 years of hiding, Eliyahu HaNavi appeared and informed Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai that the emperor had died, which meant that he was no longer in danger.
- When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai first left the cave, he criticized all those people who were not studying Torah and wherever he looked, fires broke out. A heavenly voice called out, “Do you want to destroy My world? – Go back to your cave!” Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai returned to his cave for another twelve months.
- When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai eventually left the cave, he returned to the Torah academy where he taught Torah.
- Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai died on Lag BaOmer, but just before he died, he revealed many of the mysteries of the Torah which he had learnt while in hiding. These are referred to as Kabbalah and are contained in the holy book called the ‘Zohar’. Therefore, on Lag Ba’Omer, many people celebrate by making bonfires, by playing with a bow and arrow, and by visiting Mount Meron where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Elazar are buried.
