Lag B'Omer

Today, the Oak children celebrated Lag B'Omer.  They made arrows to shoot at targets, had pretend bonfires, wrote Lag B'Omer words, created their own bonfires with art supplies, had pretend picnics, and a real inside picnic at morning snack.

Indiana Learning Foundations

PHG3.1 Demonstrate development of fine and gross motor coordination

CA4.1 Demonstrate creative expression through dramatic play

CA3.1 Demonstrate creative expression through the visual art process or experience

Here is some information about Lag B'Omer.

 Lag B’Omer 

I. Date 

Lag B’Omer takes place on the 33rd day of the counting of the “Omer,” the days between Passover and Shavuot. It is called Lag B’Omer because the Hebrew letters “lamed” and “gimel” have a numerical value of thirty-three. 

II. History 

A. The Romans: The Romans made a rule that the Jews could not learn Torah. One great Rabbi, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, continued to teach his students anyway. Whenever, the Romans came, the students quickly started building campfires, 

playing with bows and arrows and pretended they were picnicking. In this way, they were able to hide their learning and no harm befell Rabbi Shimon and his students. 

B. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the cave: The Romans became angry with Rabbi Shimon and wanted to harm him. Rabbi Shimon and his son were forced to run away. They hid in a cave for 13 years during which they learned Torah the entire time. Hashem made a carob tree grow and a stream flow outside the cave. In this way, they were provided with food and drink for the duration of their time in the cave. 

C. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai reveals Torah secrets: Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai knew that he would die on this day so he revealed many great Torah secrets to his students. As he taught these secrets, a special fire of holiness surrounded his house and stayed there the entire day. 

III. Observance 

A. To remember the picnics that Rabbi Shimon and his students made to hide their learning, it is customary to celebrate Lag B’Omer with bonfires, picnics, and games. 

B. Although Lag B’Omer is the day of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s death, it is a happy day because of all the Torah he taught his students on this day and to remember the fire of holiness that burned on this day. People light bonfires to celebrate the hidden light of the Torah that he taught and dance and sing in his honor.