Lag B'Omer Celebration Chabad of San Clemente

Chabad of San Clemente celebrated Lag B'Omer, the date on the Jewish Calendar that celebrates important historical relgious figures and marks the halfway point between two important holidays, at Rancho San Clemente Park.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Slavin and his wife Tzippy Slavin presided over the event earlier this month. The Rabbi showcased his skills as the Head Chef, Chief of Barbecue, and Master of the Spatula. Tzippy and friends made the various salads and set up the tables to provide a sumptious assortment of delicious foods.

A Bounce House provided fun for the children who also played soccer, ran around trying to fly kites and, in general, thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the nearby playground as well.

Lag B'Omer (the 33rd day of the Omer) occurs between the holidays of Passover and Shavuos, marking a kind of midpoint in the counting of the Omer which keeps track of this interval between holidays.  

It does not appear in the Torah as a holiday and came about according to Rabbi Slavin, "as a result of the stopping of a plague of Rabbi Akiva's [who was alive from 50-135 a.d.] students. Prior to Lag B'Omer, over 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students had perished in the plague but on Lag B'Omer the plague stopped."

Lag B'Omer also marks the date, or "yahzeit" of the passing of Simeon Bar Yochai, a first century spiritual leader whose teachings are compiled in the holy Zohar, a collection of commentaries on the Torah. There is a custom to celebrate his yahzeit at his burial place in Meron in Israel. The celebration includes bonfires, torches, song and feasting.

In San Clemente the barbecue symbolizes the fires which attest to the light of Rabbi Simeon that lasts till this day.

Dozens attended the event. Chabad of San Clemente is a growing Jewish community that offers traditional services, holiday events and outreach to members of the Jewish faith throughout San Clemente and the surrounding area.