Lag ba'Omer | What's Behind the Celebration?

About this episode

This episode explores the origins and significance of the Lag ba'Omer celebration, questioning common explanations and presenting a new perspective.

Lag ba'Omer | What's Behind the Celebration? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The celebration of Lag ba'Omer is as much of a mystery as the prevailing practices in the period that leads up to it. We examine the two popular explanations - the cessation of the death of R. Akiva's students and the "Yahrzeit" of R. Shim'on bar Yochai - and demonstrate that neither explanation is reasonable, period-documented or satisfactory. Looking into the earliest source where the date of 18 Iyar appears, we discover a surprising (possible) explanation which puts Lag ba'Omer into a new light. Source sheet >>

People in this episode

Host: Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Topics covered

• Lag ba'Omer
• celebration
• R. Akiva
• R. Shim'on bar Yochai
• mystery
• historical explanations

Keywords

• Lag ba'Omer
• celebration
• R. Akiva
• R. Shim'on bar Yochai
• mystery
• historical context
• Jewish tradition

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