Lag BaOmer in Israel
As we celebrate Lag BaOmer - the 33rd day of the Omer, which is, according to the Talmud, the time when 24,000 of of Rabbi Akiva’s students died from a divinely sent plague - here in Israel and we take in the atmosphere of happiness and bonfires, I wanted to point out a great article by Yonatan Sredni that reminds of us of the historic days’ true meaning and some inspiring things we can learn from it. I thought this article would be very apropos for the blog as Yonatan is a fellow Oleh who moved to Israel from America out of the heart of Silicon Valley.
The piece is especially poignant as it reminds us not to just count the Omer and light fires on this day but to do so while also learning a lesson from the tragic circumstances of Rabbi Akiva and his students and to make sure such a colossal lapse in judgment is not repeated by us and future generations.
Enjoy Lag BaOmer and, as the great Rabbi Akiva used to preach “Veahavta le-raiacha kamocha” - Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Ari
Tags: America, bonfires, Lag BaOmer, Love your neighbor as yourself, moved to Israel, Oleh, plague, poignant, Rabbi Akiva, Silicon Valley, students, Talmud, Yonatan Sredni