Lag Ba'Omer and its Customs

Lag Ba'Omer is a holiday celebrated on the 18th day of Iyar.

Many years ago, there was a little boy named Akiva. He had a hard time learning and remembering information which was taught to him. Instead of sending him to school, his parents decided it would rather be best for him to work. He stayed home and cared for sheep.

When Akiva grew up he got married to a smart girl named Rochel. Rochel advised Akiva to go to school and learn Torah. Akiva was hesitant since he knew all his life that he couldn't learn. Rochel encouraged him and off he went to learn in yeshiva.

He began learning the basics of Torah and Alef Beis together with the young children and as soon as he mastered that he moved up into a higher grade until he finished all grades.

He was determined to learn everything he felt he needed to know. He never gave up while trying to succeed at something he knew was important.

Akiva learned and knew a lot of Torah that one day he was given the title as Rabbi. People would come to learn from him and soon he had 24,000 students.

One of Rabbi Akiva's students named Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was a great Rabbi, as well. When he got old and it was time for his neshama to go back to Hashem, he asked his own students to please not be sad and rather they should use that day as a day of happiness and unity among all people. He passed away on Lag Ba'Omer.

And so on Lag Ba'Omer we make a parade showing we march in unity, we create a big bonfire and sing and dance around it in unity. (We light a candle every year on the anniversary date of a beloved person's passing. On Lag Ba'Omer we light a big fire because Rabbis Shimon was a great Rabbi)

Hashem gave people hearts in our bodies. If we have a heart, it means that we have feelings. If we have feeling, it means we care about others. Since Lag Ba'Omer just passed, and we now know how important it is to be kind and caring to our friends and all people we know, we are working hard on using kind hands and words towards each other.

Here you can see our hands stamped inside this big heart  to show we use our hands  in a caring way. 

We can do it!!!!<3

 

Here you can see different ways we are being kind, helpful, and caring towards each other.

-Bina and Reuven and reading a book peacefully in the library.

-David is happily giving Avigail a ride to her destination on his bike.

-Alec and Michelle are using their extra strength muscles to push the table out of the way. What wonderful team work!!

The friends baked heart shaped cookies to give out and share with all our Pre-school friends at our Lag BaOmer Parade. 

Reuven wearing his heart shaped banner for the parade with the picture he made of how he can be kind to others.

We are marching in our Unity Parade for Lag BaOmer. All Pre K Friends were responsible to gently hold one younger friends hand from the younger classes showing care for them.