Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Vayikra
- Behar
counting of the Omer – the semi-mourning customs
observed between Pesach & Shavuot are suspended
(in many customs, are concluded) since the plague
which killed the students of Rabbi Akiva broke on
that day (or they died during this time of the
year for 33 days, which are now concluded). Also
on this day, the Kabbalist Rav Shimon bar Yochai
("Rashbi") of Meron died, & he urged us to
rejoice on his Yahrtzeit ("Hillula"). Customs
include using bows & arrows, alluding to the
keshet (rainbow) which, by tradition, did not
appear in bar Yochai's era, as his merit alone
was enough to protect us; & cutting the hair of
children who have reached the age of 3 (a custom
known as the "Upsharen"). Many weddings are also
held on this day. The lighting of bonfires
symbolize bar Yochai's mystical insights in the
Kabbalistic work the Zohar, which illuminated the
world; if done at all, these fires must be
carefully supervised & adult-controlled.
