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    LAG BAOMER

    Lag B’omer
    Lag B’omer is a
    day which people
    celebrate with great
    simcha and joy.
    What is the reason for
    this great celebration?
    When does it start? At
    night or by day? Why
    do so many people go

    to Meron on Lag B’omer?
    Should one go to Meron for an Upsherin?
    All these questions and many others will be
    discussed in this issue.
    Lag B’omer will always fall out on the same
    day of the week as Purim.
    What Happened on Lag B’omer
    Many different happenings took place on
    Lag B’omer. Some say it is the day Rav
    Shimon Bar Yochai came out of the cave
    that he and his son were in for thirteen
    years.Rav Shimon Bar Yochai died on Lag
    B’omer and revealed to us the Zohar. The
    Rama also died on Lag B’omer and many
    have the custom to go to his kever on Lag
    B’omer.
    The Simcha of Lag B’omer
    On Lag B’omer we are happy. Some say the
    reason is because the talmidim of Rav Akiva
    who died throughout the days following
    Pesach stopped dying on Lag B’omer. Some
    poskim ask if so many talmidim died why is
    this a reason to be happy? The answer may
    be we are happy that the talmidim which
    Rav Akiva acquired afterwards did not die.
    The talmidim of Rav Akiva died because
    they did not show respect to each other.
    Some say they spoke loshon hara about each
    other. Others say although each talmid grew
    to higher levels of Torah, they were treated
    by each other as if they had not grown at
    all, because they were still friendly from the
    olden days.
    Others say the reason is to show honor for
    Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. Some say the mon
    started to fall on Lag B’omer. Others say
    the reason for the joy is based on reasons
    of kabbalah.
    The Greatness of the Day
    Lag B’omer is a segula for parnasa. Some
    say it brings one to yiras shomayim. It is
    a day for one to ask for his needs through
    tefilla. It is a day where one can ask for
    salvation in any area of life.
    Meron and Lag B’omer
    The custom to go to Meron on Lag B’omer
    dates back to the Rishonim. One should

    not go to Meron by himself. Some say
    going three days before and after has some
    meaning as well. Although some question
    the inyun of going to Meron on Lag B’omer,
    the custom is to go. It would seem that one
    who does not live in Eretz Yisroel does not
    have to be matriach himself to go to Meron
    on Lag B’omer. One who can not go to
    Meron should learn the teachings of Rav
    Shimon Bar Yochai.
    Today, when one goes to Meron he can
    see animals being shechted on the side of
    the road. One should make sure that these
    animals are shechted properly and salted
    etc according to halacha. This is usually not
    the case, and one should be careful not to
    eat from animals that were shechted in this
    way. Furthermore, when going to Meron
    one should be careful to avoid the areas that
    people walk around dressed immodestly.
    Lag B’omer and Rav Shimon Bar Yochai
    Any person who is asked will tell you that
    Lag B’omer is the day that hundreds of
    thousands of people go to Meron to the
    kever of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. Why is
    this so?
    As mentioned earlier, Rav Shimon Bar
    Yochai was niftar on Lag B’omer. Normally
    when a tzadik dies the yartzeit is not a day of
    simcha and joy, rather one fasts. However,
    Rav Shimon Bar Yochai is different. Before
    he was niftar he called his students and
    revealed to them the secrets of the Torah.
    These secrets were written down and are
    contained in the Zohar. Therefore, we are
    extra happy and rejoice on the day that these
    secrets were given to us. Others say since
    a miracle happened to Rav Shimon Bar
    Yochai that he did not die when he was in
    the cave, we celebrate his yartzeit by being
    happy. The day Rav Shimon Bar Yochai died
    three-thousand halachos were introduced.
    This is another reason why we are happy on
    Lag B’omer.
    Anytime it says in the Gemorah Rav
    Shimon without any other name, it means
    Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. He was the talmid
    of Rav Akiva and Rav Yehoshua.
    The day that he was niftar is referred to
    as the “yom hilulei” of Rav Shimon Bar
    Yochai.
    Tachnun on Lag B’omer
    Tachnun is not recited both on Lag B’omer
    and on the day before at mincha which is the
    thirty second day of the omer. One recites
    lam’natz’eiach yancha etc. on Lag B’omer.
    However, others say that it should not be
    recited;[39] this is not the overwhelming
    custom. When Lag B’omer falls out on

    Sunday (as it does this year) one
    does not recite tzidkascha tzedek at
    mincha on Shabbos.
    Fasting
    One may fast for tannis chalom on
    Lag ’omer. One should not fast for
    a yartzeit on Lag B’omer.
    When getting married on Lag
    B’omer those who have the custom
    to fast on their wedding day should
    do so. Others are lenient. Even one
    who did not fast should still say
    viduy at mincha. When a fast day
    precedes the day of the chuppah one should
    still fast on the day of the chuppah. The
    same would apply if a fast follows the day
    of the chuppah.
    Marriage
    The custom is that one is permitted to get
    married on Lag B’omer. Some say that the
    only time that one may get married on Lag
    B’omer is by day. The Sefardim have the
    custom to marry on the thirty-fourth day
    of the omer. The overwhelming custom is
    that one may get married the night of Lag
    B’omer.However others have the custom
    not to get married on Lag B’omer as well.
    A wedding that started on Lag B’omer by
    day may continue into the night. Dancing
    and music are permitted at a wedding on
    Lag B’omer.
    It is interesting to point out that one who
    goes to a chasana during the time he is
    observing the restrictions of sefira may only
    dance after the chosson and kallah come
    out from taking pictures, since before they
    come out the dancing is not considered
    being mes’ameach the chosson and kallah.
    Even those who hold like the Arizal and
    are noheg the issur of taking haircuts on all
    days of sefira, may make a wedding on Lag
    B’omer. No weddings are permitted on the
    night before the thirty second day.
    Haircuts/Shaving
    According to the opinion of the Mechaber
    one may not take haircuts until the thirty
    fourth day in the morning. The Rama holds
    one may shave on Lag B’omer. Many say
    this means even at night (because no tachnun
    is said already from erev Lag B’omer),
    while others say it means first thing in the
    morning because if one waits a little in the
    morning it is as if one waited a whole day.
    This is known as miktzas hayom k’kula. The
    custom of many seems to be that shaving
    or taking a haircut is permitted after neitz
    hachama.
    When Lag B’omer falls out on Sunday (as
    it does this year) shaving etc is permitted

    on Friday because of kovod for Shabbos.
    The reason why it is kovod for Shabbos is
    because by the mincha before Lag B’omer
    one does not say tachnun, so technically
    shaving would permitted on Shabbos, but
    since one can not do so, the allowance is
    pushed back to Friday. One may not shave
    etc. on Motzei Shabbos when Lag B’omer
    falls out on Sunday. Furthermore, many say
    that shaving etc. in the above situation is not
    permitted on Thursday night if one has time
    to do it on Friday. One who started shaving
    etc. on Lag B’omer may continue after
    shekia as well (even if he holds no shaving
    after Lag B’omer).
    According to the opinion of the Arizal
    shaving is not allowed even on Lag B’omer.
    Shaving is permitted on Erev Shavuos even
    for those who go with the Arizal’s opinion.
    Meron and Upsherin
    Hundreds, if not thousands of people,
    cut their children’s hair in Meron on Lag
    B’omer. This was the custom of the Arizal.
    Some say the reason is because the holiness
    of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai should be a
    zechus for the child. Others say the reason is
    because hair is part of the yetzer hara and this
    was taught to us by Rav Shimon bar Yochai
    when he gave us the Zohar. Many have the
    custom to go to Meron on Lag B’omer and
    cut the child’s hair even before the child has
    actually reached the age of three. Others
    say only if the child was born during sefira
    should one go to Meron. If sefira then one
    should not go to Meron to cut his hair. Some
    question the reason to go cut hair at a kever
    of any tzadik.
    Saying “Today is Lag B’omer”
    Some poskim say one who has not yet
    counted the sefira of Lag B’omer should
    avoid telling someone else today is Lag
    B’omer, since doing so may be considered
    counting the day. Other poskim permit this
    since his intention is not to count the day,
    rather he is referring to the name of the day
    since it is a day of simcha. This seems to be
    the minhag ha’olom.

    “Chai Rotel”
    Something which one finds when visiting
    Meron is the drink called “Chai Rotel.” The
    Bobov Rebbe zt”l said that one who gives
    out this mashka on Lag B’omer is zocheh to
    great things including children. Many people
    who can’t attend Meron on Lag B’omer to
    hand out the mashka pay people to hand it
    out for them. Chai Rotel is an ancient Israeli
    measurement which today is equivalent to
    54 liters. The minhag used to be to hand out
    only wine or grape juice. However, today
    water and soda are also handed out.
    Bonfire
    Some say the reason for bonfires on Lag
    B’omer is because when Rav Shimon Bar
    Yochai revealed the secrets of the Torah to
    us, he brought light to the world, so we make
    light in his honor. Others say the reason is as
    a remembrance of the fire that surrounded
    Rav Shimon Bar Yochai while he was in the
    cave.
    Some have the minhag in Meron to throw
    garments in the fire on Lag B’omer. Some
    say the reason is because Rav Shimon Bar
    Yochai did not wear clothes when he was in
    the cave, and when he wanted to learn he

    would cover his body in sand. Those who
    permit this say there is no bal tashchis by
    throwing the garments in the fire,while
    others say that throwing the garments in the
    fire is indeed bal tashchis.The minhag today
    seems to be that no one throws any garments
    in the fire.
    Night or Day
    Many have the custom to make the bonfires
    (and dancing) on the night of Lag B’omer.
    Others say that the simcha should start by
    day.However, it seems that because of Rav
    Shimon Bar Yochai the minhag is to do the
    bonfire and dancing etc at night all over the
    world not only in Meron. However, music
    not accompanied by a bonfire should not
    be listened to until the next day after neitz
    hachama.
    Bows and Arrows
    On Lag B’omer the custom of many is to
    shoot bows and arrows. One reason is
    because Hashem shows a rainbow (keshes)
    in the sky when He wants to destroy us, but
    the rainbow is the simon that he will not
    do so. In the generation of a few people a
    rainbow was not shown because of their
    merit. One of those people was Rav Shimon

    Bar Yochai. Many
    tzadikim have the custom
    to shoot a bow and arrow
    (representing a rainbow)
    as well. Some say since
    Lag B’omer is a day that
    is fit for one’s tefillas to
    be answered we shoot
    a bow and arrow. The
    beginning words of
    shema kol tefilaseinu
    spells keshes (rainbow).
    The Bar Yochai Song
    On Lag B’omer many
    people have the minhag
    to sing Bar Yochai, which was composed
    by the mekubel Rav Shimon Ben Labia who
    died in 1584. Many people have the custom
    to sing this song every week in the zemiros
    of Shabbos.Some say the reason for this is
    because Rav Shimon Bar Yochai was called
    Shabbos.
    Rabbi Akiva
    Umar Rabbi Akiva etc. is popularly sung on
    Lag B’omer since the ideas expressed in the
    Mishnah coincide with the purpose of sefira,
    a period of spiritual cleaning in preparation

    for Shavuos. These words are taken from the
    last Mishnah in Yoma.
    Lag B’omer on Sunday
    There is a discussion in the poskim when
    Lag B’omer falls out on Sunday if the
    bonfires can be made on Motzei Shabbos.
    The reason for the discussion is because they
    are made on Motzei Shabbos the police etc
    may have to be mechalel Shabbos to prepare
    for the event (this is especially applicable in
    Meron where there are many Jewish police
    officers). The minhag seems to be lenient
    with this.