Lag BaOmer, which is the 33rd day of S’firas HaOmer, and the 18th of Iyar, is a festive day celebrating two prominent, yet connected events:
In the weeks between Pesach and Shavuos, all of Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students died in a plague, because they did not properly respect and honor one another (Y’vamos 62b). Though there are several commentaries on what it means that Rabbi Akiva’s students did not show enough respect and honor, all agree that they fell short in the mitzvah of V’ahavta l’rei’acha kamocha, loving your fellow as yourself. We thus mourn over their behavior and the harsh din (judgment) they received. Lag BaOmer, however, was the day that the dying stopped, and on this day all signs of mourning are suspended. But, from the ashes of Rabbi Akiva’s loss arose five great sages who restored the Torah to the world: Rabbi Meir Baal HaNeis, Rabbi Yehudah bar Ila’i, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, Rabbi Yosi ben Chalafta, Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua, and Rabbi Nechemiah.
Our Sages teach us that Lag BaOmer is a “day for t’filah and y’shuah” and is an auspicious time to daven for one’s physical and spiritual needs. Here are a few of the many sources on this topic (compiled from ShiratMiriam.com):
Lag BaOmer is a day where one can ask for salvation in any area of life. (B’nei Yisas’char, Iyar pg. 98)
Lag BaOmer is a day to do t’shuvah. (Y’aros D’vash 2:11)
Celebrating Lag BaOmer brings one to yir’as shamayim. (S’fas Emes, Emor 652)
The Pri Tzadik writes that on Lag BaOmer one can be granted with the merit of reaching higher spiritual levels, thus enabling him to better learn and understand the words of the Torah.
The days of the month of Iyar are a time of r’fuah, especially the days of hod, and more so Lag BaOmer, which is hod she’b’hod.
Lag BaOmer is a s’gulah for parnasah. (Nit’ei Gavriel Pesach 3: pg. 292) In fact, the mahn descended to B’nei Yisrael in the desert for the first time on Lag BaOmer.
According to the Admor of Sochtshov, Lag BaOmer is the best day to ask to meet your zivug (soulmate). In fact, the word “hilula” means “marriage,” and Rashbi himself was married on the day of Lag BaOmer. It is also a good day to pray for success concerning our children’s marriages.
Lag BaOmer is a good day to ask for children and many descendants who go in the way of Torah. There is an additional s’gulah to buy a bow and an arrow, as it is written: “Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the sons of one’s youth.”
There is a minhag on Lag BaOmer to read seven times chapter 67 of Sefer T’hilim, which expresses gratitude to Hashem.
May we all be zocheh to receive the light of Rabbi Shimon and Lag BaOmer!
List of People Who Need a r’fuah sh’leimah (a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Yonasan Chaim ben Yocheved
Nisan ben Shoshanah
Eliyahu Igor ben Rachel Raya
Hillel ben Orah Brachah
Gavriel ben Frida
Ben-Tzion Yoel ben Blume
Yitzchak Meir ben Chanah Kresel
Shmuel ben Etta Ettel
Mindel Esther Malkah bas Elka
Sarah bas Miriam
Avigayil bas Chavivah
Malkah Marina bas Miriam Bertha
Esther Hadassah bas Devorah
Mitali Naomi bas Gilah Farcha
Miriam Chayah bas Sarah
Orah bas Devorah Chayah
Adinah Rivkah bas Sharon
Blume bas Ethel Rivkah
Perel Rachel bas Chanah Mindel
Esther bas Sima
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.
