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Lag B'Omer
The 33rd day of the Omer — a joyous break in the semi-mourning period between Passover and Shavuot.
📅 May 16🌙 Lunar calendar
✦ Why It Matters
Lag B'Omer marks the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the mystic who authored the Zohar — the foundational text of Kabbalah. It also commemorates a pause in the plague that killed Rabbi Akiva's students.
✦ How It Is Observed
Bonfires across Jewish communities worldwide, haircuts for boys who have waited since birth or Passover, archery, weddings, pilgrimages to Rabbi Shimon's tomb at Meron in the Galilee.
✦ Sacred Text
“Come and see: when the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world, He looked into the Torah and created it.”
— Zohar, Introduction ↗
Note on dates: This holiday follows a lunar or lunisolar calendar. The date shown is approximate for 2025–2026. Exact dates may vary by one or two days depending on moon sighting and regional tradition. Always confirm with your local community.