Tag B’Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer, the period between Passover and Shavuot. It is a day of joy and celebration during an otherwise semi-mourning period.
 
Why is it Celebrated?
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai – It marks the yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a 2nd-century sage and mystic, traditionally believed to have revealed the secrets of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism).
End of a Plague – According to tradition, a plague that killed Rabbi Akiva’s students ceased on this day. The mourning customs of the Omer period are lifted on Lag B’Omer.
 
Customs and Traditions:
   •   Bonfires – Represent the spiritual light of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s teachings.
   •   Outdoor Celebrations – Picnics, parades, and archery (symbolizing Jewish
resilience).
   •   Haircutting (Upsherin) – Some Jewish boys receive their first haircut at age 3 on
Lag B’Omer.
   •   Pilgrimage to Meron, Israel – Thousands visit Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s tomb
for prayers and festivities.
 
Lag B’Omer is a day of unity, joy, and spiritual reflection, breaking the solemnity of the Omer period.