Let’s Create Our Own Lag B’Omer Custom

In another week we will be celebrating Lag B’Omer – the 33rd day of the Omer. The Omer is known as period of mourning which began with the death of Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students from a heavenly ordained plague. Legend has it that the plague stopped on this day.

There are several customs associated with Lag B’Omer, which is also the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, author of the Zohar and father of Jewish mysticism. Some of the customs revolve around the Rabbi and his request that the day of his death be turned into a celebration. Consequently, to symbolize the light he spread to all of his followers, we light bonfires on Lag B’Omer night, singing and dancing around the fire, mock archery contests are held, and (not related to the Rabbi) 3-year old boys get their first haircuts.

How to do all these customs fit in with your school day? Not very well. This got me thinking about the origins of the Omer, some lesser known Israeli customs, and how we can combine all of this into an original school custom.

First of all, what is an Omer? It is a measure of barley. In Biblical times, it was a commandment to bring barley the size of an Omer on the second day of Passover to the Temple in Jerusalem. Counting the Omer is a Biblical commandment found in the book of Leviticus. The days of the Omer run from the day after Passover night – when the Jews physically became free – to the night before Shavuot – when the Jews achieved spiritual liberation through the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai.

Step 2: Little known Israeli customs. On Lag Ba’Omer night many Sephardi Israelis go to Mount Merom, pitch huge tents, serve festive multi-course dinners and enjoy the beat of live music. On Lag B’Omer day, Israeli universities hold open fairs on their campuses in honor of “Student’s Day.”

Step 3: Let’s work out a combination by pitching one tent in the school yard and have a student run fair. One table can be devoted to barley: how it looks, how it grows, barley based food and drink, etc. For instance, do you know that the word barn originally meant barley-house? A second table can be devoted to Rabbi Akiva. Who was he? What was his connection with Bar Kochba? What was the reason for the plague that killed his students? What was his connection with Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai? Recreating a visual “map” of his life could be a challenging and enjoyable activity for your students. Finally, since Jewish mysticism deals with the soul of the Torah, how about singing and dancing to some Jewish soul music.

I hope this gives you some inspiration. Enjoy Lag B’Omer.
Tami

Get Ready for Yom Ha’atzmaut with the Perfect Annual Israeli Custom

Tafur Alecha/Alei’ch. That’s the Hebrew idiom for “it’s made for you” and the annual International Bible Contest held in Jerusalem every Israel Independence Day is just that – the Israeli custom that is really Tafur Alecha/Alei’ch for your Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration this year. Students from all over the world fly to Israel to participate in this competition which was started by David Ben-Gurion – the George Washington of Israel. All of them have already won their own national competition. This year, Israelis will be paying special attention to the Israeli contestant since he is none other than Avner – the 16 year-old son of Prime Minister Netanyahu. Avner comes from a tradition of Bible Quiz winners on his mother’s side.

So what will be the focus of your Bible contest? Here’s an idea: famous siblings in the Bible. Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, Moses, Aaron and Miriam (yes, please don’t forget to include sisters), to name a few. How about including this question in the quiz: “Who were the first set of brothers that didn’t fight and how do we remember them?”
Answer: Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Menasheh. How do we remember them? Through a beautiful Shabbat custom. Before we start the Shabbat meal, or right after candle lighting, we bless our children. The blessing for boys is “May God make you to be like Ephraim and Menasheh.” The reason we recite this blessing dates back to Jacob, when he was about to die. He summoned his family around him so that he could bless them. Surrounded by his closest of kin, he chose to first bless Ephraim and Menasheh. Aware of the jealous streak that ran in his family, Jacob was proud of how these two grandsons behaved towards each other. He used them to stress the point that brothers should live in peace.
On that peaceful note, I wish all of you a Yom Ha’Atzmaut Sameach.
Tami