Biblical law forbade any use of the new barley crop until after an omer was brought as an offering to the Temple in Jerusalem. An omer (“sheaf”) is an ancient Hebrew measure of grain.
The Omer has both agricultural and spiritual significance: it marks both the spring cycle of planting and harvest, and the Israelites’ journey out of slavery in Egypt (Passover) and toward receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai (Shavuot). (The numerical value of the Hebrew letter lamed is 30, and the value of gimel is three lamed and gimel together are pronounced “lahg.”) This holiday gives us a break from the semi-mourning restrictions (no parties or events with music, no weddings, no haircuts) that are customarily in place for some Jewish communities during the Omer. About Lag BaOmer in Other CountriesRead more about Lag BaOmer.Lag BaOmer is a minor, festive holiday that falls on the 33rd day of the seven-week period between Passover and Shavuot, a period of time is known as the Omer. Since this process took some time, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. Once the date was published, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. The beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. This custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. In the Jewish diaspora-Jewish communities outside of Israel-an extra day is usually added to religious observances, with the exception of Yom Kippur, which lasts only one day worldwide, and Rosh Hashana, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. Jewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel In some places, the boy´s parents give out wine and sweets in celebration to onlookers while their child gets his first haircut. In fact, the Talmud forbids the cutting of hair during the entire Counting of the Omer period, except on the date of Lag B´Omer.
In more religious and Hasidic communities, the boys typically have not had their hair trimmed before this age. A Ritual HaircutĪnother Lag B´Omer tradition is upsherin, a ceremonial hair cutting usually given to three-year-old boys. The Hebrew word for both bow and rainbow is keshet, so children are often encouraged to play games with bows and arrows as a special part of the observance. The bow is meant to recall the rainbow sent by God in the aftermath of the great flood as a sign of hope. In Israel, a major Lag B´Omer celebration is held at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, where large crowds celebrate with bonfires, torches, song, dancing, and feasting.Īrchery bows also play a part in Lag B´Omer celebrations, particularly among children. Other historians think there may be a connection between the traditional celebration of Lag B´Omer and European May Day festivals featuring bonfires. Some scholars say this is meant to represent the teaching and enlightenment, or " spiritual light" brought into the world by 2nd-century Judean sage Simeon ben Yochai.
Bonfires and Bowsīonfires often light up the sky to celebrate Lag B´Omer. Another popular theory is that this was the day that a plague that ravaged the famed Rabbi Akiva's students in the second century CE suddenly ended. While the origin of this holiday is not entirely clear, some historians speculate that the 33rd day of this counting was singled out for celebration because an ancient spring festival was also celebrated on this date. The day numbers of 1-50 are called out in the temple after each evening service, a tradition that became known as the “Counting of the Omer”. The name of this holiday refers to the 33rd day of the Omer, which translates from Hebrew as a sheaf of wheat or barley.Ī passage in the Torah´s book of Leviticus says that God commanded people to make an offering of a sheaf of barley on each of the 50 days between Passover and Shavuot. Lag B´Omer is celebrated on the 18th day of the month of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls in May in the Gregorian calendar. While this is not a public holiday in the United States, some Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. © /chameleonseye Is Lag B´Omer a Public Holiday? Business Date to Date (exclude holidays)Ĭelebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer holy period, Lag B´Omer (or Lag BaOmer) recalls great sages and ancient miracles.īonfires light up the night sky as part of Lag B´Omer festivities.
0 kommentar(er)
