lag baomer
Lag BaOmer is the yahrzeit, Yom Hilula, of the Tanna HaKodosh, Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi), who is “Reb Shimon” in the Gemara and authored the Zohar HaKodosh. The Chida says we are joyous in honor of Rashbi, because that is what he wanted. (Avodas HaKodesh)
Why do we
mourn on 7
Adar, the
yahrzeit
of Moshe
Rabbeinu
(many people
used to fast
on this
day), but
celebrate on
the
yahrzeit
of
Rashbi?
Because the
Gemara
says (Temuros
16a) that
3000
halachos
were
forgotten
during the
mourning for
Moshe
Rabbeinu,
therefore,
we mourn. On
the day
Rashbi
left this
world,
however, so
man secrets
of the Torah
were
revealed,
making it a
day of joy
and
celebration.
(Ner
Yisroel)
The days of Iyar are mesugal for refuah, especially the days of hod, and more so Lag BaOmer, which is hod sheb’hod.
The Arizal says that Rashbi blesses all those that come to Meron to celebrate on his Yom Hilula. (Hilula D’Rashbi)
The Tzemach Tzedek points out that the first letters of מ׳לך ר׳ופא נ׳אמן ו׳רחמן spell מרון, meaning in the merit of the tzadik at rest in Meron, Hashem will heal the sick.
The posuk (Yeshaya 57:19) says שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב, אָמַר ד׳-וּרְפָאתִיו – peace, peace to those far and those near, says Hashem, and I will heal him. ורפאתיו is the same gematria as שמעון בר יוחאי. The allusion from this is that even those who couldn’t come to Meron for Lag BaOmer can have their prayers answered, wherever they are (as the posuk says “to those far and those near”), and receive a yeshua in the merit of Rashbi. (Hilula D’Rashbi)
Similarly, Mesechta Pesachim (51b) says one can rely on Rashbi, if you’re in front of him or if you’re not in front of him. This alludes that one can receive a yeshua on his Yom Hilula “in front of him”, praying by his tzion, or “not in front of him”, meaning, any other place you may be on Lag BaOmer. (Kol Aryeh)
R'
Avrohom
of
Kalisk
would say,
when he went
to the
mikvah
on Lag
BaOmer
morning,
that he
accepts upon
himself the
kedushah
of
Yom
Tov.
R’ Chaim
Elazar
of
Munkach
points out
an allusion
from the
second
mishna
in
Rosh
Hashona.
It says on
Rosh
Hashana
all the
people pass
by
Hashem
“kibnei
maron”.
This can be
read as on
Rosh
Hashana,
passes by
Hashem,
the merits
of all the
people
mibichinas
Meron,
where
Rashbi
and his son,
Rebbi
Elazar,
are buried.
Through this
merit the
world
continues,
as it says,
the
tzadik
is the
foundation
of the
world. (Shaar
Yisaschor)
It is brought down that Lag BaOmer is also a day of salvation for everything. (Shaar Yisaschor)
The light
of
Kabalas
HaTorah
starts on
Lag
BaOmer,
therefore,
the most
important
part of the
day is
Torah.
(Bnei
Yisaschor)
It is
especially
good to
learn the
story of
Rashbi
starting on
Shabbos
daf
33b (That is
daf
"lag"),
or other
Gemaras
with
Rashbi.
R’ Yaakov of Husyatin says that it is a day to pray for material and spiritual things, because this is the day the mon started to fall, opening up a pipe of parnasa, not just for that generation, but for all generations after. Each and every year there is a renewal of the light of this great and holy day.
Sfas Emes heard from his grandfather, the Chidushei HaRim, that on Lag BaOmer one can merit Yiras Hashem.
R’ Yehoshua of Kaminka said the following to the Divrei Yechezkel of Shiniva: Lag BaOmer is the “aspect” of Yom Kippur, because on Yom Kippur the avodah could only be done by Ahron, who was the aspect of hod. So too, Lag BaOmer, which is hod sheb’hod, one is able to receive good yeshuas, just like on Yom Kippur.
There is a custom to light bonfires in honor of Rashbi. The souls of all the tzadikim are there when the fire is lit.
R’ Avrohom Yaakov of Sadiger says tens of thousands of neshomas get tikunim from the lighting of bonfires in honor of Rashbi.
R’ Moshe Mordechai of Lelov says just saying over the name of the city, Miron, where Rashbi is buried, can bring yeshuas. This can be learned from the mishna in Yoma 3:1 which says they asked if the sky was lit up till Chevron. The Yerushalmi and Rav Ovadiah Bartenura explain Chevron is mentioned to bring about Zchus Avos, since the Avos are buried in Chevron. Similar to this, the Sadigerer said just saying the name of the city, Berdichev, brings rachamim from heaven, since R' Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev was always defending Klal Yisroel.
The Kedushas Zion of Bobov HY”D, in a letter told someone who wanted a child to donate Chai Rotel Mashke (about 54 liters of drink) for the people in Miron, in honor of Rashbi. (Taamei Minhagim) This is also done as a segula for many different things.
There is a custom to put olive oil in the fire and to burn clothes in the fire. The Rizhiner used to send silk garments to Miron to be burnt in the bonfire. Tzadikim of Eretz Yisroel say this is a segula for success, materially and spiritually.
Reb Mendel of Rimanov says that the reason we use Bows and Arrows is because no rainbows were seen while Rashbi was alive and the bow symbolizes the rainbow. (Bnei Yisaschor)
A segula for one to have a boy is to shoot a bow and arrow on Lag BaOmer. (Sefer HaMidos) This is alluded from a posuk in Divrei HaYomim 1 8:40 וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי-אוּלָם אֲנָשִׁים גִּבּוֹרֵי-חַיִל דֹּרְכֵי קֶשֶׁת וּמַרְבִּים בָּנִים וּבְנֵי בָנִים And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, shooters of bows (archers), and had many sons, and sons' sons. (Tcheriner Rov)
There is a minhag to cut a boys hair for the first time, if he is near the age of 3. There are many different customs related to this.
Zohar & Tikunei Zohar
Many tzadikim say one should read Zohar or Tikunei Zohar, even if you don’t understand anything, because it is beneficial to the neshama. (This applies any day, but more so on Lag BaOmer) Among those that said this or similar statements to this are: Chida, R’ Yaakov Koppel, Degel Machane Ephraim, Shearis Yisroel, Komarna, Pela Yoetz, R’ Moshe of Kobrin, Shomrei Emunim and others.
R’ Pinchas of Koritz says reading Zohar is good for parnasa.
Many tzadikim say to read Tikunei Zohar, especially, from the beginning of Elul until Yom Kippur. (Sichos HaRan, Mateh Ephraim)