Did you ever hear of "Lag B'Omer?"

What is “Lag B’Omer” and why is it so important to the Jewish people today?

The Chabad Jewish Center in Glastonbury will be hosting a special Family Fair on May 18 -- and you are invited!  Click here for more info: http://www.chabader.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2197766/jewish/Jewish-Family-Fair.htm

The double message of Lag B’Omer is a most powerful one.  It is as relevant today as it ever was, perhaps even more so.  In a nutshell, this auspicious day (celebrated this year on May 18) carries two crucial lessons: Jewish knowledge and Jewish unity.  With serious challenges in the area of Jewish education — amongst both children and adults — and with the menace of needless discord raising its ugly head, we must surely heed the message of Lag B’Omer in our times.

This festive day marks two significant events.  Firstly, it is the day of the passing of the great Talmudic sage and mystic, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (author of the Zohar).  Rabbi Shimon, who lived in the second century, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the “Kabbalah.”

On the day of his passing, he instructed his students to mark the date as “the day of my joy.”  The Chassidic masters explain that the final day of a righteous person’s earthly life marks the point at which all his accomplishments achieve their culminating perfection.  Each year, on Lag B’Omer, we celebrate Rabbi Shimon’s life and the Torah wisdom that he made available to us.  Indeed, these spiritual teachings continue to inspire millions of people the world over.

Lag B’Omer also commemorates another important event: In the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged amongst the students of the famed sage Rabbi Akiva.  The Talmud identifies the cause of this terrible plague: “They did not act respectfully towards each other.”  This is especially stinging since, after all, Rabbi Akiva is the one who taught that “Love your fellow as yourself” is a central principal of the Torah.  On Lag B’Omer the dying ceased.  Thus, this special day also carries the theme of love and respect for one’s fellow.

Jewish knowledge and Jewish unity.

The Chabad Jewish Center in Glastonbury will be hosting a special Family Fair on May 18 -- and you are invited!  Click here for more info: http://www.chabader.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2197766/jewish/Jewish-Family-Fair.htm