Lag BaOmer 2025 Feast in Jaffa

The name of the holiday derives from the period of counting barley sheaves (ʿomer) and lag comes from the Hebrew numerals for 33, which is represented by the Hebrew letters lamed (ל; l) and gimel (ג; g).

The origin of the Lag BaOmer festival is obscure. Among many traditions, one holds that manna first fell from heaven on this day. Another tradition claims that a plague that raged among the followers of Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef during the counting of ʿomer ceased on this day. A further tradition holds that the great rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a student of Akiva, died on Lag BaOmer. Shimon is credited with writing the Zohar, the principal work of Kabbala (Jewish mysticism), for which he is highly revered and contributes to the significance to the holiday’s celebration.

On the eve of Lag BaOmer this year, according to the custom of Israel for generations, the community gathered in the courtyard of the Monastery in Jaffa to light a bonfire and prepare a shared meal.

The fire burning on the mountaintops on Lag BaOmer was originally intended to inform the people that a miracle had occurred and that oppressive Roman rule had ended, and that now there was no need to hide and that it was permissible to study and teach Torah in public and live freely according to the laws of the Torah.

This year a fire burned with special holiness, from the wood of the old altar that had recently been replaced with a marble altar! The fire, of course, reminded of the presence and providence of Jesus our Lord, and this brought us immense joy and hope! It was a wonderful and uplifting evening, and everyone was satisfied with the abundance of meat that fr. Apolinary prepared!

And may this fire continue to burn in our hearts for a long time to come and nourish us with faith, hope and love!!!