Many of his students joined him in backing the revolt and were killed along with thousands of Judeans when it failed. Akiva not only pinned his hopes on a political victory over Rome but believed Bar Kochba to be the long-awaited Messiah. led a ferocious but unsuccessful revolt against Roman rule in Judea. The outstanding sage Rabbi Akiva became an ardent supporter of Simeon bar Koseva, known as Bar Kochba, who in 132 C.E. The Talmudic explanation makes most sense when put into historical context.

(The Hebrew letters lamed and gimel which make up the acronym “Lag” have the combined numerical value of 33.) As a result, Lag Ba’omer became a happy day, interrupting the sadness of the Omer period for 24 hours. (Yevamot 62b) The mourning behavior is presumably in memory of those students and their severe punishment.Īccording to a medieval tradition, the plague ceased on Lag Ba’omer, the 33rd day of the Omer. But the most often cited explanation for the Jewish practice comes from the Talmud, which tells us that during this season a plague killed thousands of Rabbi Akiva‘s students because they did not treat one another respectfully. The Omer is a time of semi-mourning, when weddings and other celebrations are forbidden, and as a sign of grief, observant Jews do not cut their hair. Anthropologists say that many peoples have similar periods of restraint in the early spring to symbolize their concerns about the growth of their crops. There are a few explanations why we celebrate Lag Ba’omer, but none is definitive.

A break from the semi-mourning of the Omer, key aspects of Lag Ba’omer include holding Jewish weddings (it’s the one day during the Omer when Jewish law permits them), lighting bonfires and getting haircuts.

Lag Ba’omer is a minor holiday that occurs on the 33rd day of the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help Donate

Lag b omer 2021