Understanding Lag BaOmer: Rabbi Akiva's Teachings and the Celebration of Kindness
Lag BaOmer marks the 33rd day of the Omer, breaking the somber mood of the counting period. Rabbi Akiva's story exemplifies the essence of compassion and respect for others. Learn about the significance of this day and the teachings that emphasize love for fellow human beings.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
The 33rdDay of the Omer Lag Ba Omer means the 33rdday of the Omer. Starting with the second Seder on Pesach, we count 49 days until Shavuot, when we received the 10 commandments on Har Sinai. This counting comes from the practice of counting the days from the barley offering at the Temple to the day of the wheat offering on Shavuot. A measure of barley is called an omer.
Celebration While the days of the Omer are traditionally a time of mourning, on this day, we celebrate. The holiday celebrates a break in a plague that is said to have occurred during the days of Rabbi Akiva. Many of his students died in a plague because they were not being respectful to one another.
Rabbi Akiva Long ago, lived a man named Akiva. He was a simple shepherd who lived in a simple home. He did not even know the letters to the Aleph-Bet or how to read. One day his wife, Rachel, told him it was time for him to learn to read and to study. He wondered, What if I can t learn? What if my brain is hard like a stone and can t absorb new ideas? Then, he saw water running over a rock and that there was a hole in the bottom of the rock. He realizes: water is soft. Yet, if drop by drop, it can cut a hold in a hard thing like a rock. My mind is not harder than a rock. I can learn just like water cuts through stone a little bit each day. And that s just what he did. He learned the aleph bet and how to read. He went away to study Torah for many years and soon became a very wise scholar with many followers.
Rabbi Akiva continued One day, his students stopped being kind to each other and as a result, many died in a plague. In the Torah, it says You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Because we are all created in HaShem s image (B tzelem Elohim), when we show disrespect for others, we show disrespect for HaShem. Rabbi Akiva said that compassion for others is the heart of Judaism it s the most important to be kind and respectful to others. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Eventually, the students realized this and on Lag Ba Omer, the plague ended and so now we celebrate!
Vahavta Lreyacha Kamocha Don t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don t walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend And together we will walk in the way of HaShem. V ahavta L reyacha Kamocha Ze Klal Gadol Ba Torah. ( ) . (18) YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR FELLOW MAN AS YOURSELF Rabbi Akiva said: This is a fundamental principle of the Torah : ) (
Listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDFzYI5vvsI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtRANrG2-PU
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai The Talmud states that the great teacher Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai died on Lag Ba Omer and asked that people remember him by celebrating the day. Rabbi bar Yochai was a wise teacher, and children came from all over to study with him. Unfortunately, the Roman emperor at the time declared Torah study to be forbidden, but the students wanted to continue to learn. So, Rabbi Shimon hid in a cave for many years to teach the students. To trick the Romans, the students brought picnic lunches and bows and arrows (to pretend to be going hunting). Rabbi bar Yochai and his son stayed in the cave until the emperor died and Torah study was allowed again. A carob tree grew outside his cave to provide sustenance, and a stream flowed through it to provide water.
When is it? What do we do? So, on this day, we celebrate that the plague of Rabbi Akiva s students ended and the bravery of Rabbi bar Yochai. We mark the day with picnics, camping, sports games, and bonfires (to represent the light of the Torah or the mystical light of Rabbi bar Yochai s teachings). Many 3yr old boys have their first hair cut on Lag B Omer and it is also a popular day for weddings. This year Lag Ba Omer begins on Monday evening, May 11 and ends at sundown on Tuesday, May 12.
Hebrew match-up Tent Bonfire Omer Picnic
UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS MORE NETT BFNORIE BKOAHKBRA AMSWMALRSHLO VTLERO VCAE WOB NAD ROAWR BARIB KAVIA MANORS
Snack ideas: Snack ideas: Have a picnic in your yard Use red and yellow pepper slices (or strawberry and banana slices) for fire and pretzel sticks/rods for logs. Try dipping the pepper slices in ranch dressing or hummus after assembling your bonfire . Make Smores on a bonfire or in the oven: Graham crackers with chocolate spread or pieces and roasted marshmallow. In Israel, many people also roast potatoes in the bonfire.
Activities: Build an indoor blanket cave Have a picnic in your back yard Put up a tent in your yard and spend the night outside!
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Find these items in your yard or neighborhood .. a worm a green leaf a spiderweb a feather a smooth object a rough object a fallen branch a flying insect a round rock a pine needle an acorn a treasure to you!
