Talmud Bavli, Yevamot 62b:
“They died the disciples of Rabbi Akivá because they do not honor each other.”

1) What it is and when it falls

• Definition: day festive minor in judaism that disrupts the duels part of the period between Passover and Shavuot. “Lag” is the numerical value of the letters lamed (30) + guímel (3) = 33.
• Date fixed Hebrew: 18 iyar (day 33 of the account).

2) biblical Sources and the framework of the Omer

• The Torah orders count seven full weeks from the offering of the omer (barley) until the “fiftieth day” (Shavuot). Text base: Leviticus 23:15-16 and the context of Leviticus 23:9-14more Deuteronomy 16:9.
• The account is done night for weeks are “complete”. Practice codified in halacha and popular manuals.

3) historical Origin-traditional Lag BaÓmer

• During the Omer ruled a period of semi-mourning by the death of the That 24,000 students of Rabbi Akivá, which occurred between Passover and Shavuot; the tradition says that ceased Lag BaÓmer. Base talmudic: Yevamot 62b.
• This practice was codified in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Jaím 493 (prohibition of weddings and hairstyles up to Lag BaÓmer, with undertones).
• On the why the plague: the Talmud the links to “do not respect each other” and mention “askará” (a type of diphtheria) as a “bad death.”
• Transmissions medieval and gaónicas they also introduce hypothesis roman persecution and textual variants (“up ha Atzeret”), used by poskim to locate the cessation of the day 33.

Midrash Tehillim 34:
“The souls of righteous are like fire: light up the world even after his departure.”

4) The dimension of Rabbi Shimon bar Yojái (Rashbí) and Meron

• Lag BaÓmer is, in popular practice, the hilulá (commemoration joyful) of Rashbí, centred on his tomb in Meron (Galilee), with bonfires, chants, and crowds.
• Origin of the association: kabbalistic traditions (Idrá Zutá/Zóhar) and sources later; there is debate philological (possible printer's error in a text Chaim Vital that led you to read “the day that he died” in place of “day of the joy of Rashbí”).
• Security and background: the site brings together hundreds of thousands of pilgrims; there were official warnings and past tragedies, including the avalanche of April 30, 2021 (45 deaths), the worst disaster civilian in Israel, which gave rise to reforms and controls.

5) Customs central

1. Nightly bonfires (refer to the “light” of the Torah of Rashbí/Zóhar).
2. Wedding, music and dancing (temporary lifting of restrictions).
3. Hair cuts (upsherin) for children from 3 years in many communities.
4. Bows and arrows (custom child): various explanations. The most widespread: in the life of Rashbí there was no rainbow (symbol of judgment mitigated since Noach); for his merit, “did not need” the rainbow, and the “bow” is represented as a toy. Other readings linked to Bar Kochba and camouflage study as hunting.
5. Excursions and picnics (especially in Israel).

Rabbi Chaim Vital (Etz Chaim):
“The counting of the Omer is the refinement of the soul: day after day, attribute by attribute.”

6) Fall practice

• Weddings and music: allowed in Lag BaÓmer (with local meanings). Tajanún it is ignored that day (and, in many rites, also in Minchah the day prior).
• Hair cutting/shaving mirrors:
  • Ashkenazíes: allowed Lag BaÓmer; some enable from the nightother from the morning (after Netz).
  • Sephardi: in the day 34 (so-called “Lad BaÓmer”), by the reading of Shulchan Aruch 493:2; there are authorities that relaxes according to the circumstances (e.g., if it falls on a Friday in honor of Shabbat).
  • Jasidismo/Arizal (as usual): some avoid cut all of the Omer and what do newly eve of Shavuot; even so, weddings Lag BaÓmer are common.
• Fasts: usually not fast Lag BaÓmer.
• Models duel of the Omer: there are several minhagim (first 33 days, from Rosh Jodesh iyar until Shavuot excluding Rosh Jodesh and Lag, etc). Know the minhag family/community is key.

7) Reading mystical

• Lag BaÓmer corresponds to Hod shebe-Hod (“humility/splendor inside the humility”), in the map of the seven sefirot emotional worked in the 49 days.
• In spiritual guides to contemporary are proposed exercises refinement of the trait of Hod to this day.

8) Meron today: massiveness and risk management

• The hilulá of Meron is, from the Middle Ages, the largest annual pilgrimage of the country; the state authorities and police planned special operations. Warnings infrastructure and accidents (1911, 2021) contained in public reports and press releases. If you are attending, strictly follow official instructions and haircuts.

9) a Point of academic debate/community

• Is it really the yahrzeit of Rashbí? There is discussion textual-historical; the practice was consolidated as hilulá of Rashbí Lag BaÓmer, but the exact rationale is object of analysis.
• Historical cause of the deaths: although the source talmudic speaks of lack of respect and “askará”, some studies and traditions suggest persecution/wars in the roman period as a backdrop; it is not the canonical interpretation, but it is found in the rabbinic literature, and informative.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk:
“Do not seek the light outside, turn it on inside of you.”

10) Summary

• Night: fires (where permitted and security), omission of Tajanún, festive events; many begin weddings/music. Ashkenazíes often allow courts; Sephardi waiting for the day 34 with a few exceptions.
• Day: excursions, upsherin, bows and arrows for kids, pilgrimages to the local or to Meron (if applicable).
• Spiritual context: pause in the mourning of the Omer; interior work in Hod shebe-Hod.