1/ Tonight, Jews in Israel commemorate Lag B'Omer (the 33rd day of 49 days b/w Passover and Shavuot).
The Talmud says on Lag B-Omer a plague stopped killing 12,000 pairs of Rabbi Akiva's students.
Celebrations in Meron & Jerusalem at graves of sages. Pics from ~ 120 yrs ago.
The Talmud says on Lag B-Omer a plague stopped killing 12,000 pairs of Rabbi Akiva's students.
Celebrations in Meron & Jerusalem at graves of sages. Pics from ~ 120 yrs ago.
2/ Lag B'Omer. One sage is Shimon Hatzadik, buried in Jerusalem. Easier to reach than the Meron celebration in the Galilee.
To this day, schools take their kids for hikes into nature, like the rabbis who hid to learn Torah.
I found & colored this pic & ID's it as Lag B'Omer, 1918
To this day, schools take their kids for hikes into nature, like the rabbis who hid to learn Torah.
I found & colored this pic & ID's it as Lag B'Omer, 1918
3/ Now mix some Talmud & history: 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students died in a plague because they didn't "show each other respect." No one else hit by plague?
He was known for "love your neighbor as yourself." His disciples didn't show respect for their fellow students?
He was known for "love your neighbor as yourself." His disciples didn't show respect for their fellow students?
4/ Akiva was a great rabbi & a nationalist who supported Bar Kochba's revolt vs the Romans. Did the 24k die resisting the Romans? Learning Torah was a capital offense, but did they fight?
One text said the terrible plague was called "askaria." In Turkish, "askar" is a soldier.
One text said the terrible plague was called "askaria." In Turkish, "askar" is a soldier.
5/ This is a coin minted by Bar Kochba (Koziba) showing the Temple & a lulav set used on Sukkot. The number of branches is fewer than we use today. Why? Rabbi Akiva's teaching said to use fewer, & Bar Kochba followed his rabbinic patron.
Akiva was tortured to death by the Romans.
Akiva was tortured to death by the Romans.
6/ Normally on Lag B'Omer Israel is ablaze with bonfires. Some suggest it commemorates signal fires of the rebellion.
Kids make bows & arrows (to replay the rebellion?) Pic 2 from the US Holocaust Museum.
Kids make bows & arrows (to replay the rebellion?) Pic 2 from the US Holocaust Museum.
7/ It is suggested that Lag B'Omer was a day when the Jewish forces vs Rome celebrated a victory. There weren't many of those.
For centuries, the rabbis & Jewish texts downplayed nationalist stirrings, considering the destruction of the Temple & the subsequent Bar Kochba revolt.
For centuries, the rabbis & Jewish texts downplayed nationalist stirrings, considering the destruction of the Temple & the subsequent Bar Kochba revolt.
Dessert: I found this undated pic in Library of Congress & had to figure out where, when, who.
Enlarging it, I found a British army camp on the northern ridge, just 4 months after capturing the city -Lag B'Omer, April 1918. Kids were going home in the Old City after their outing.
Enlarging it, I found a British army camp on the northern ridge, just 4 months after capturing the city -Lag B'Omer, April 1918. Kids were going home in the Old City after their outing.
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