Chabad Richmond hosted a barbecue on Lag b’Omer, May 5. (photo from Chabad Richmond)
Families in Richmond gathered on May 5 for a Lag b’Omer barbecue organized by Chabad Richmond. Fun for the kids included a bouncy castle, archery, crafts – and s’mores. It was an afternoon of community, connection and celebration. It was especially meaningful to celebrate the upsherin (first haircutting) of local community member David Safonik.
Lag b’Omer is a festive day, honouring Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, the primary text of kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). The numerical value of the Hebrew letters lamed and gimmel (Lag) is 33, and b’Omer means “of the Omer,” the 49-day counting period from the second day of Passover to Shavuot. The 33rd day of the count falls on the 18th of the Jewish month of Iyar, the day of the rabbi’s passing, which he had instructed his followers to mark 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 their deeds, teachings and work achieve their culminating perfection and the zenith of their impact upon our lives,” explains Menachem Posner on chabad.org. “So, each Lag b’Omer, we celebrate Rabbi Shimon’s life and the revelation of the esoteric soul of Torah.
“Lag b’Omer also commemorates another joyous event. The Talmud relates that, in the weeks between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged among the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva (teacher of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai), ‘because they did not act respectfully towards each other.’ These weeks are, therefore, observed as a period of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag b’Omer, the deaths ceased. Thus, Lag b’Omer also carries the theme of loving and respecting one’s fellow (ahavat Yisrael).”
Last August, Chabad Richmond welcomed shluchim (emissaries) Rabbi Menachem and Esther Miriam Wolf (née Golomb). The Wolfs work alongside Rabbi Yechiel and Chanie Baitelman, founders of Chabad Richmond, who have led the community for more than 25 years. The couple leads Shabbat meals, weekly classes and holiday programs geared toward young adults and families, as well as CTeen Richmond and the Hebrew school, which is a partnership of Chabad Richmond and the Bayit.
– Courtesy Chabad Richmond & chabad.org