Lag B'Omer

Lag B’Omer is a holiday celebrated on the thirty-third day of the Counting of the Omer (literally, unit). The Omer is the ritual counting of days during the seven weeks from the second day of Passover, which commemorates the Exodus,  to the first day of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah. We are reminded that the redemption from slavery was not complete until we received the Torah.

In Israel, Lag B’Omer is celebrated to symbolize the fighting Jewish spirit. While the Omer is a time of mourning, on Lag B'Omer marriages can be performed, children are taken to parks to play, and people often gather for large bonfires, which represent the light of the Torah. 

A Celebratory Bonfire

At Dartmouth Hillel, Lag B’Omer was celebrated with a festive bonfire in the backyard of the Roth Center. The group cooked s’mores and other deserts and discussed the history and meaning of Lag B’omer.