Community Corner

What's Happening at Local West Orange Synagogues

This week's focus returns to the Lubavitch Center Shul.

Yesterday, we celebrated Lag BaOmer

What Is Lag BaOmer?
Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count, is a festive day on the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated with outings (during which the children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron, northern Israel) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day. 

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in the second century of the common era, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the Kabbalah, and is the author of the basic work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. On the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon instructed his disciples to mark the date as “the day of my joy.” 

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The Chassidic masters explain the final day of a righteous person’s earthly life marks the point at which “all his deeds, teachings and work” achieve their culminating perfection and the zenith of their impact upon our lives. So each Lag BaOmer, we celebrate Rabbi Shimon’s life and the revelation of the esoteric soul of Torah. 

Lag BaOmer also commemorates another joyous event. The Talmud relates that in the weeks between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged amongst the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva, “because they did not act respectfully towards each other.” These weeks are therefore observed as a period of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag BaOmer the deaths ceased. Thus, Lag BaOmer also carries the theme of the imperative to love and respect one’s fellow (ahavat yisrael). 

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  • It is traditional to light bonfires on Lag BaOmer eve. These commemorate the immense light that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai introduced into the world via his mystical teachings. This was especially true on the day of his passing, when he revealed to his disciples secrets of the Torah whose profundity and intensity the world had yet to experience. The Zohar relates that the house was filled with fire and intense light, to the point that the assembled could not approach or even look at Rabbi Shimon.
    By far, the largest Lag BaOmer celebration takes place in and around Rabbi Shimon’s tomb, located in the northern Israeli village of Meron. Hundreds of thousands attend the festivities and the round-the-clock celebration, singing and dancing are unparalleled. 
  • Children customarily go out into the fields and play with imitation bows and arrows. This commemorates the Midrashic tradition that no rainbow was seen during Rabbi Shimon’s lifetime. Rainbows first appeared after Noah’s flood, when G‑d promised to never again devastate the world. When the world is deserving of punishment, G‑d sends a rainbow instead. Rabbi Shimon’s merit protected the world, rendering the rainbow superfluous. 
  • In some circles it is customary to eat carobs on Lag BaOmer. This commemorates a lifesaving miracle that Rabbi Shimon experienced. For a period of 13 years, Rabbi Shimon and his son were fugitives from the Roman regime, in hiding in a cave in northern Israel. Miraculously, a carob tree grew at the entrance of the cave, providing nourishment for its two holy occupants.

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Shabbos Emor
Friday, May 11, 19 Iyar
Summer schedule, Mincha every Friday evening: 7 p.m.
Light Candles at: 7:46 p.m. – Count Omer 35

Shabbos, Saturday, May 12, 20 Iyar
Rabbi Herson’s Class 8:30 a.m.
Morning Services 9:30 a.m.
Rabbi Kasowitz’s sermon 11:30 a.m.
Kiddush sponsored by Mordechai Kirsch in honor of Joe and Lori Rozehzadeh and their sons David, Ikey, Rami, Reuven and Yisroel.
Rabbi Klar’s Parsha class after Kiddush
Rabbi Herson’s class 6:45 p.m.

Evening Services
7:35 p.m. - Pirke Avos Chapter 4, followed by 3rd Shabbos meal
Shabbos ends 8:52 p.m. - Count Omer 36 

Annual Dinner
An Evening of Music & Entertainment. You are invited you to join us on May 29
at the Atrium County Club in West Orange.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012 | 8 Sivan, 5772
Guests of Honor: Robert & Rochelle Rush, Chaia Sagorsky, Menucha Libson
Featuring: B'nai Jazz & Maurice Sabloff - Mind Reader
Celebrating the Life of Dr. Richard B. Kaplan OBM
Please RSVP online.


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