Lag B’Omer – Light My Fire!

21 Iyyar 5779 / a little late for La"G ba'Omer ;-(

Fire Safety for Lag BaOmer - Hidabroot (read the source! Great for years to come...)

 [Note RE: the first paragraph: R' Sprecher told me today that he was told that Robbie Krieger of the former Doors had visited Israel and Diaspora Yeshiva in the late 1960s, several years before the Rav had himself arrived. I could find no independent corroboration on line or anywhere else (wouldn't it have been cool to have a link?). Please let me know if you met him here, or heard about it, at my blog email or as a comment below. -HDG]


by Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher | links to sources by HDG

The Doors had a number one hit song called "Light My Fire" in 1967. This song was written by band member Robby Krieger who visited Diaspora Yeshiva in the 1960s. Perhaps Krieger was inspired by the Lag B’Omer fires that he saw in Israel. Why does everyone in Israel get so "fired up" on Lag B’Omer?

There are two main historical events connected to Lag B’Omer. First, the Talmud Yevamot 62[b] states that during the time of Rabbi Akiva, 24,000 of his students died from a Divinely sent plague during the days of the counting of the Omer between Pesach and Shavuot.

The Talmud goes on to say that this was a punishment because Rabbi Akiva's disciples did not show love and respect to each other. They were jealous and begrudged each other's spiritual levels and achievements.

We celebrate Lag B’Omer as the traditional day that this plague was suspended and Rabbi Akiva's students stopped dying.

The Zohar gives another reason for Lag B’Omer. It recounts that the great sage, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai died late in the day on Lag B’Omer, and the sun miraculously did not set until he died, when a Heavenly Pillar of Fire appeared over his body. Thus, there is the Kabbalistic tradition of lighting candles and bonfires on Lag B’Omer. Also, customs of mourning for Rabbi Akiva's disciples, held during the days from Pesach till Shavuot, are suspended and stopped on Lag B’Omer.

But what does Lag B’Omer mean today? What is the message for us in our daily lives?

Perhaps these two ideas, the mourning for Rabbi Akiva's students and the lighting of bonfires for Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's Yahrzeit are connected.

Think of a camp fire or a bonfire. It provides a warm glow. You can roast marshmallows and hotdogs around the camp fire, gather around and bond with other people. Everyone is attracted to a fire. Throughout the Torah, G-D always appears to human beings in a fire. For example, G-D appeared to Moshe as a flame in the Burning Bush and to the entire Jewish People as a Devouring Fire on top of Mount Sinai (Shemot 24). Thus, a bonfire or campfire bonds and brings people together.

The idea of Lag B’Omer and the lighting of fires is to bring us together. Rabbi Akiva's disciples grew apart, the bonfires of Lag B’Omer are supposed to bring us together. We should illuminate each other with the Light of Torah and perform our Mitzvot with fiery enthusiasm. Our goal as Jews is to kindle each other’s Eternal Flame.

It's strange, but in today's age, although we are more connected to each other than ever before thanks to technology, we seem to be more disconnected from the people around us. We see people sitting together but instead of talking to each other, each one is engrossed in texting someone else through their smart phone and WhatsApp.

So on Lag B’Omer, for one night a year, we should put away our smart phones and dumb phones and show respect and love for each other by reconnecting to those close to us.

This can be the Tikkun for Rabbi Akiva's disciples, who had no respect and love for each other.

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NOTE: The municipality of Jerusalem did not allowing fires to be lit on La"G ba'Omer because of the hot, dry summer-like weather - readers may be aware that there were fires, not only from the bonfires, but from our "cousins" as well. -HDG