Art by Sefira Lightstone
A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY
This week has been quite a whirlwind. The lead-up to Friends All Around is always a bit chaotic and this year is no exception! It means long nights and detailed plans (and alternative detailed plans!) culminating in a beautiful community affair (G-d willing!) this Sunday. In addition, today we observe “Lag Ba’omer,” an auspicious day commemorating the passing of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a great sage who revealed many hidden aspects of the Torah. Known as the Rashbi, this extremely pious man was one of the originators of the Kabbala, the hidden and somewhat esoteric parts of the Torah. Right before he left this world, the Rashbi asked his followers, and all those who studied his teachings, to not mourn, but to commemorate his passing with celebration and so that’s what we traditionally do. It is common for folks to get married and we partake in activities (usually bonfires, cookouts and other “field-oriented” events) on this day; in short, it Lag Ba’Omer is a happy day.