7. Throwing Clothes into the Bonfire and Praying at the Gravesites of Tzadikim

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Many people had a custom to throw expensive clothing into the bonfire at Meron, explaining that they do so in honor of R. Shimon bar Yoĥai.

6. The Custom of Giving Boys their First Haircut

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Some have a custom to refrain from cutting their sons’ hair until they reach the age of three. When their son reaches that age, they cut his hair and leave his sidelocks.

4. R. Akiva

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Hidden within the hilula celebration of Lag Ba-omer is another memorial: a memorial for the greatest expositor of the Oral Torah, the wondrous Tanna, R. Akiva, one of whose five greatest disciples was R. Shimon bar Yohai.

5. Bonfires on Lag Ba-omer

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

For hundreds of years, there has been a custom to light a large bonfire near R. Shimon bar Yoĥai’s grave on Mount Meron, in honor of his hilula.

3. The Personality of R. Shimon bar Yohai

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Before we elaborate on the customs of the hilula, we will briefly discuss the unique character of R. Shimon bar Yoĥai and his mentor, R. Akiva.

2. The Hilula of R. Shimon bar Yohai

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

Many people have a custom to spend Lag Ba-omer on Mount Meron, where R. Shimon bar Yoĥai (Rashbi) and his son, R. Elazar, are buried.

1. Lag Ba-omer

Chapter 5: Lag Ba-omer

It is customary to rejoice somewhat on Lag Ba-omer. Even though we observe some customs of mourning during the omer period, nevertheless, one may sing and dance on Lag Ba-omer.

Lag BaOmer

The accepted way of marking the death of a righteous person is by fasting. How then is it that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's expiration has become occasion for joy and festivity?