Lag Ba'Omer Hub - With Love, Ima

Lag Ba’Omer is a holiday that occurs on the 33^rd day of the Omer. Counting the Omer is the special 49 days between the second night of Passover and the beginning of Shavuot. Lag Ba’Omer is a joyous holiday. There are different opinions of the origins of the holiday—the ending of a plague, a victorious battle, connection to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and Rabbi Akiva.

Jews celebrate Lag Ba’Omer by lighting bonfires. Many Jewish couples also get married on Lag Ba’Omer because it’s the only day weddings are permitted during the Counting of the Omer. Many Jews also cut their hair on Lag Ba’Omer because cutting hair is otherwise prohibited during the Counting of the Omer (this tradition is usually not kept by Reform Jews).

Our Reform synagogue doesn’t celebrate Lag Ba’Omer but I’ve enjoyed celebrating it with my family. It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk about some of the history and historical figures connected to the holiday, as well as Jewish customs surrounding weddings (love talking about chuppahs!) and hair cutting. Even if these are customs we do not personally keep in our house, I want my children to grow up understanding the range of Jewish customs and traditions and choosing the ones that work for them.

Learning Goals for Lag Ba’Omer

My learning goals for this holiday are for my kiddos to understand there is a special period of time between Passover and Shavuot and that in the middle there is a joyous holiday called Lag Ba’Omer.

I also like to talk about the customs and traditions related to Jewish weddings and hair cutting.

Common Symbols of Lag Ba’Omer

Bonfires: common way to celebrate the holiday
Weddings: Because of the pause in mourning, celebrations often take place on this day, such as weddings, which are customarily prohibited during the mourning period.
Picnics: common way to celebrate the holiday
Cutting Hair: The Counting of the Omer is treated as a semi-mourning period, and observant Jews refrain from hair cutting during this time. Lag B’Omer suspends this restriction so some young children to get their first haircuts on the holiday.
Bows and Arrows: imitating students of Rabbis Akiva and Shimon who fooled the Romans by pretending they were hunting.

Explore our Lag Ba’Omer crafts, activities, and experiences from this year and previous ones to engage you and your family in a fun and meaningful Lag Ba’Omer exploration experience!

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