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LAG B’OMER #2 MOURNING BEGINS ONE DAY
Lag B’Omer is the thirty-third day of the Omer period. (The BEFORE THE MONTH OF IYAR
number 33 in Hebrew gematria, where numerical value is AND CONCLUDES THREE DAYS
assigned to letters, is “Lag”.) According to most customs, BEFORE SHAVUOS.
music and haircuts are permitted on Lag B’Omer. One Lifting of the mourning period on Lag B’Omer (day 33) as well
explanation for its distinctiveness is that the students of as on the 47th day of the Omer only become permitted after
Rabbi Akiva stopped dying on that day. sunrise.
Lag B’Omer is also the anniversary of Rabbi Shimon Bar Some variants of this custom are a) to begin on the first day
Yochai’s death. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is famous as the of Iyar (day 16) and conclude the morning of the 48th day of
author of the Zohar, a seminal work of Kabbalah; in tribute to the Omer, or b) to begin the day after Rosh Chodesh Iyar (day
him, many communities celebrate with bonfires. 17) and conclude the morning of the 49th day.

Note that the predominant custom does not permit music 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
and haircuts on the evening leading into Lag B’Omer, but 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
rather on Lag B’Omer day after sunrise.
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
WHEN THE MOURNING OCCURS 49 Shavuos

Here are the three common customs for the days of mourning.
(The shaded areas are the observed days of mourning.) One #3 THE ENTIRE OMER COUNT –
may adopt any one of these customs, and it is even permitted UNTIL THE LAST DAY.
to practice a different custom from one year to the next.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Note that although some of the customs seem to include 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Pesach as part of the mourning period, common practice 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
permits listening to music during Chol Hamoed (intermediary 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
holiday days).
49 Shavuos

#1 THE FIRST THIRTY-THREE For a full list of references/sources, please contact the author,
DAYS OF THE OMER Rabbi Yochanan Schnall, at yschnall@crckosher.org.

Lifting of the mourning period on Lag B’Omer (day 33)
becomes permitted after sunrise.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

49 Shavuos

Best Wishes for a
Healthy and Happy Passover!
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky

www.janschakowsky.org  847-424-1998

Paid for and authorized by Schakowsky for Congress.

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