Lag Ba'Omer: Counting, Characters & Customs

COUNTING:

What is "Counting the Omer"?

Explaining the mitsvah of Sefirat HaOmer, Rabbi David Seidenberg writes:

Every night during the Omer we say a blessing for doing a mitsvah and then say the count which leads us from Passover to Shavuot, from the barley harvest to the wheat harvest and, ultimately, to the first offering on Shavuot itself of wheat from the new harvest, in the form of 12 loaves. During the time the Omer was counted, barley from each week would be brought into the Temple and waved as an offering, really as a prayer that the harvest would come in successfully...

Each day between the beginning of Passover and Shavuot gets counted, 49 days in all, 7 weeks of seven days... This cycle...is a chance to align ourselves with the rhythms of spring and the spiritual freedom represented by the Torah.

The Omer count is made starting the evening of each day – when the count happens at night the blessing is said and when the count happens during the daytime the blessing is not said. After the blessing the day is counted by absolute number and by its number within each week, i.e., “Today is the thirty-third day of the Omer, which is four weeks and five days” – that’s Lag Ba’omer (lamed plus gimel, ל + ג = 33).

The biggest challenge of counting the Omer is that it is one long mitsvah lasting 49 days. What that means is that if you go one whole night and day without counting, the halakhah is to no longer say the blessing. Making it all the way through seven weeks without missing a day is not easy for most of us! Hence, the proliferation of calendars, websites, and apps for counting the Omer.

https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Sefirot-HaOmer-Calendar-Chart-Hebrew-and-English-Aharon-Varady-2019.pdf

CHARACTERS:

Three of the more famous historical characters related to Lag BaOmer are: Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and Bar Kochba.

1. Rabbi Akiva is known for:

a. Learning to read at the age of 40,

b. Going from an illiterate shepherd to becoming a great scholar,

c. Being emotionally and financially supported by his wife, Rachel, who sends him off to study for many years,

d. After amassing many students and becoming a well known rabbi, dying at the hands of the Romans while reciting the Sh,ma (prayer of God's one-ness).

One of the reasons given for the celebration of Lag BaOmer is that a plague that afflicted Rabbi Akiva's students stopped on this day.

2. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai: A student of Rabbi Akiva's who is known for hiding in a cave with his son for many years to avoid being caught and killed by the Romans, and is given credit as the author of the Zohar (a book of mystic interpretations of the Torah and the source of Kabbalah). It is said that Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai died on Lag BaOmer.

Although the anniversary of the death of a righteous person (tzadik) is usually a mournful day, the anniversary of Rebbi Shimon's death on Lag BaOmer is a festive one. Bonfires are lit and people sing and dance by the flames. Weddings, parties, listening to music, picnics, and haircuts are commonplace. (Wikipedia -- Counting of the Omer)

3. Bar Kochba: Led a revolt against the Romans and was thought by some to be the next Messiah. In Israel, Jews celebrate both him and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai by making huge bonfires on lag BaOmer. As you can see in the video below, there are critical issues that often arise when religion is melded with politics and when leaders are seen as saviours.

CUSTOMS: Some of the customs during the Omer period are: Men don't cut their hair until Lag BaOmer and marriages are postponed until after Lag BaOmer because the preceding weeks are considered a semi-mourning period. The day of Lag BaOmer itself is celebrated with picnics and bonfires. Another custom is for people to study a Mishnah called: Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers).

Below is one verse from Pirkei Avot. Before reading it (Don't peek!) answer these questions for yourself:

1. Who is wise?

2. Who is mighty?

3. Who is rich?

4. Who is s/he who is honoured?

Write down your answers before proceeding to the text of the Mishna.

Wisdom: From who have you learned?

Mighty: What do you do when you are angry to subdue your anger and to calm yourself?

Rich: List 5 things that you have that money cannot buy.

Honour: How do you show respect for others?