לּג בּעומֶר
Lag BaOmer
Celebrating Unity, Joy & the Eternal Flame
Chabad s. pedro
What Is Lag BaOmer?
Between the redemption of Passover and the revelation of Shavuot lies a 49‑day spiritual journey known as the Counting of the Omer — a period of inner growth and semi‑mourning in memory of a great tragedy. On the 33rd day, the mood shifts entirely.
לּג בּעומֶר — Lag BaOmer — takes its name from the Hebrew letters לּ (Lamed = 30) and ג (Gimel = 3), totaling 33. It is a day of bonfires, music, dancing, and deep joy.
⚒︎ The End of a PlagueAccording to the Talmud, 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva perished during the Omer period because they did not treat one another with sufficient honor and respect. On Lag BaOmer — the 33rd day — the plague ceased. Their story is a timeless reminder that the way we treat each other is the very heart of Torah. |
🔥 The Yahrtzeit of Rabbi ShimonLag BaOmer is also the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the Zohar — the foundational text of Jewish mysticism. Before leaving this world, he revealed the deepest secrets of Torah and instructed his students to celebrate this day as a hillula — a joyful festival of light. |
🕐 When Is It?Lag BaOmer falls on the 18th of Iyar. In 2026 this is Tuesday, May 5th. Celebrations traditionally begin the evening before — Monday night, May 4th — with bonfires lit as soon as the prior day ends. |
🔆 The Meron CelebrationEvery Lag BaOmer, hundreds of thousands of Jews make a pilgrimage to Meron, Israel — where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is buried — for an enormous celebration of fire, song, and prayer. It is one of the largest single gatherings of Jewish people in the world. |
Traditions of Lag BaOmer
Five beautiful customs that fill this joyful day with fire, music, and meaning — each one connecting us to the soul of Rabbi Shimon and the unity of the Jewish people.
BonfiresBonfires blaze across cities and fields on Lag BaOmer night, symbolizing the radiant spiritual light of Rabbi Shimon's Torah — an illumination no darkness can extinguish. |
Haircuts (Upsherin)Boys who turn three during the Omer receive their first haircut on Lag BaOmer. This ceremony — called upsherin — marks the beginning of formal Torah education. |
Bows & ArrowsChildren play with bows and arrows. One reason: no rainbow appeared during Rabbi Shimon's lifetime — his own merit protected his entire generation from Divine wrath. |
Singing & DancingLag BaOmer is one of the only days in the Omer when music, dancing, and weddings are fully permitted. Communities erupt in joyful song from San Pedro to Meron. |
Carob & FruitsRabbi Shimon survived 13 years in a cave sustained by a miraculous carob tree. Carob and fruits are enjoyed on Lag BaOmer in his memory. |
Our Lag BaOmer Celebration
Lag BaOmer
BBQ & Fire Pit
All are welcome
The Omer & Lag BaOmer
Lag BaOmer is Day
33
לּג
5 weeks and 3 days of the Omer
18 Iyar • Tuesday, May 5, 2026
We count 49 days from the second night of Passover to the eve of Shavuot — a journey of spiritual refinement bringing us closer day by day to the giving of the Torah. Lag BaOmer — Day 33 — shines as the luminous midpoint.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai
c. 80–160 CE
Talmudic sage
Kabbalist & mystic
Author of the Zohar
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai — known by the acronym Rashbi — was one of the towering Torah sages of the mishnaic era, a devoted student of Rabbi Akiva and one of the few who survived the very plague we mourn during the Omer.
When the Romans condemned him to death for defying their decree against Torah study, Rashbi and his son Rabbi Elazar fled and hid in a cave in the Galilee. For thirteen years they lived there, immersed in Torah, sustained by a miraculous carob tree and a fresh spring. When they finally emerged, his spiritual perception was so intense that his gaze burned what he looked upon. He returned to the cave for one more year until his awareness came into balance with ordinary life.
Rashbi is the author of the Zohar — the Book of Splendor — the foundational text of Kabbalah, illuminating the hidden dimension of every letter and commandment in the Torah. On the day of his passing, he revealed the deepest secrets of divine unity and instructed his students that this day should be celebrated — not mourned — as a hillula: a festival of light.
His teachings form the backbone of Chabad Chassidic philosophy. When the Baal Shem Tov and the subsequent Rebbeim brought Kabbalah to the masses, it was Rashbi's Zohar they brought with them.
Rashbi's key works: The Zohar (זוהַר), Tikkunei Zohar, Idra Rabba, Idra Zuta. His yahrtzeit at Meron draws the largest annual Jewish gathering in the world.
Lag BaOmer Q&A
The name comes from Hebrew numerology (gematria). The letter לּ (Lamed) equals 30, and ג (Gimel) equals 3 — together they spell “Lag” (לּג) and represent the number 33. “BaOmer” means “in the Omer,” making Lag BaOmer literally the 33rd day of the Omer count.
The bonfire tradition is rooted in the legacy of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. The Zohar describes him as a “holy lamp” whose Torah illuminated the world — and whose passing released a burst of supernal light. By lighting bonfires on the anniversary of his passing, we symbolically reflect that light back into the world, celebrating the gift of his mystical teachings. In Israel, the largest bonfires are lit at his grave in Meron.
The Talmud (Yevamot 62b) records that 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died during this period from a plague, because they did not show proper love and respect for one another. In their memory, Ashkenazic Jews observe certain mourning customs during the Omer — refraining from haircuts, weddings, and live music. On Lag BaOmer, when the plague ended, all these restrictions are lifted and we celebrate.
The Zohar (Hebrew: זֹהַר, “Radiance”) is the foundational text of Kabbalah — Jewish mysticism. It is a mystical commentary on the Torah that reveals the inner dimensions of every letter, word, and commandment. Authored by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his circle of disciples, the Zohar forms the spiritual basis of Chabad Chassidic philosophy and is one of the most influential texts in all of Jewish literature.
The word upsherin comes from Yiddish, meaning “to shear.” It refers to the joyful ceremony of giving a Jewish boy his very first haircut on or around his third birthday — the age when Torah education traditionally begins. Many families hold the upsherin on Lag BaOmer, celebrating with singing, sweets, and prayer. Friends and family each take a small symbolic snip, and the occasion is often marked by giving the child his first set of tzitzit.
Absolutely — and we mean it. Our Lag BaOmer BBQ & Bonfire at Chabad of San Pedro is open to everyone. Whether you're Jewish, curious, a longtime community friend, or simply looking for a warm evening with good food and good people — you are welcome at our table. Come for the BBQ, stay for the bonfire, and leave knowing a little more about this beautiful holiday.