The Story and Holiness of Lag BaOmer – A Day That Shines Forever

Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count, is more than just bonfires and music — it's a day of deep spiritual light and Jewish pride.

It marks the yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi), the great Tannaic sage who revealed the deepest secrets of the Torah through the Zohar, the foundational work of Kabbalah. Before his passing, he asked that this day be celebrated with joy, for he completed his holy mission in this world and left behind a legacy of divine wisdom.

Lag BaOmer is also the day when a plague that killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students miraculously stopped — a moment of healing and unity for the Jewish people.

To this day, Jews around the world gather to celebrate with bonfires, symbolizing the spiritual light of Torah, parades, and songs of faith and connection to Hashem. In Meron, by the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, tens of thousands come to pray, dance, and tap into the holiness of this unique day.