Lag B'Omer
The Flame of Torah
The days between Passover and Shavuot are called the days of the Omer. We are commanded in the Torah to count 49 days from Passover and then celebrate Shavuot on the 50th day.
Lag B'Omer - the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer is a minor Jewish holiday. This day marks two events that took place in the 2nd century. According to the Talmud (Yevamot 62b), a terrible pandemic broke out amongst the students of the famed Mishnaic teacher Rabbi Akiva. In all, 24,000 students passed away leaving behind a remnant of his once prestigious Yeshiva. As the pandemic ended on Lag B'Omer, this day was made into a holiday.
One of Rabbi Akiva's students who survived was Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, known by the acronym RASHBI. This great rabbi and teacher is seen not only as Rabbi Akiva's spiritual heir, but also as the father of the Kabbalah, and is attributed to be the author of the holy Zohar. The Rashbi was a spiritual giant who not only taught and disseminated Torah during one of the most difficult periods in Jewish history, but also dedicated himself to his fellow man, making the world a better place. The Rashbi passed away in the city of Miron, Israel on Lag B'Omer. Prior to his passing, he instructed his students not to mourn after his passing, but to celebrate the elevation of his soul - his Hilula, as now, his soul was unfettered by physical constraints, and could be one with Hashem.
The common denominator of these two Torah giants was their absolute commitment to preserving Torah and teaching it in the most difficult of times - of the Roman persecution. Rabbi Akiva was the link of tradition and Torah study as is evident from the Talmud "The world remained desolate until Rabbi Akiva came to our Masters in the South and taught the Torah to them" (Yevamot 62b). Rabbi Akiva continued to teach Torah until the day of his death- when he was cruelly murdered by the Romans. Likewise, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was the following link in the chain of Tradition, as he ensured that even during the most trying and challenging persecution, the study and transmission of Torah did not stop.
The symbol of Lag B'Omer is the flame of fire, representing the Torah. Per tradition, bonfires are lit on this special day and the study of both the revealed and hidden aspects of the Torah are celebrated. For without the passion and flame of the Torah, we would not be here today.
Happy Lag B'Omer
