Chabad of South Brunswick Celebrates Lag BaOmer

Men, women and children joined Chabad of South Brunswick in celebration of
Lag Bomer for an evening BBQ and Bonfire on the grounds of the Chabad Jewish Center on May 10.

The celebration was organized by Rabbi Levi and Goldie Azimov and featured a drum circle with Terry Brown, live music by the Baker Brothers, a moon bounce, cotton candy, archery, snow cones, and the Kindling of the Bonfire by Sam Ravee.

The event was enjoyed by all that attended. The drum circle was a real hit, and gave all the participants a feeling of unity and community.

Lag BaOmer is a festive day on the Jewish calendar, celebrated with outings, bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, Israel, whose Yahrzeit (anniversary of his passing) the day marks. On the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon instructed his disciples to mark the date as "the day of my joy."

Each Lag BaOmer we celebrate Rabbi Shimon's life and the revelation of the esoteric soul of Torah, which continues to be an inspiration to the Jewish People.

Lag BaOmer also commemorates the cessation of a plague that occurred in the weeks between Passover and Shavuot among the disciples of the great Talmudic sage Rabbi Akiva “because they did not act respectfully toward each other.”

The dying ceased on Lag BaOmer, which thus carries the theme of Ahavat Yisrael, to love and respect one's fellow.

“Lag BaOmer is an enjoyable Jewish celebration,” says Rabbi Levi Azimov, director of Chabad of South Brunswick.  “It actually commemorates the passing of a great Jewish leader, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, but is celebrated in a positive, upbeat way, as Rabbi Shimon willed it.”