It was 50 days from the time the Israelites exited slavery in Egypt until they got to Mt. Sinai and received the 10 commandments. Therefore, we count 50 days from the holiday of Passover until we get to the holiday of Shavuot. “Shavuot” is translated to “weeks,”as we count seven weeks (50 days) between the two holidays. We call this counting “The Omer,” and we count each day of it (as Rav Shira and students have demonstrated during each day’s daily morning message). Day #33 is a special day we call, “Lag B’Omer.” “Lag” is actually an acronym made up of the Hebrew letters Lamed and Gimmel. Each has a numerical value: Lamed is equal to 30, and Gimmel is equal to three. The 33rd day of the Omer is special for a number of reasons, and we will celebrate it here with student led activities, including several bonfires wherein students will cook potatoes according to ancient custom.
It is important to help our students grab hold of parts of their heritage that they may or may not fully understand at times, and make sure they have a positive connection to it. The 33rd day of the Omer is surrounded in mystique and is well worth learning more about.
For now, making this day special for our community is a good start! May your internal fires of creativity, wonder, and awe be ignited along with the rest of the Jewish world on Lag B’Omer (Thursday at Sundown until Friday at sundown).
Shabbat Shalom,
Brian Cohen, Head of School
April 30, 2021 ~ 18 Iyar 5781