Don't miss out on this Shavuot's Special Feature: Ice Cream garden party, where your kids get to create their own edible cold garden! Free and open to all! 🍦🌻
Register now: jewishcliftonpark.org/events/shavuot-2026/
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17 hours ago
This Tuesday, to celebrate Lag B’Omer, we’re hosting a community BBQ and celebration with fun for all ages.
But aside from a great excuse to fire up the grill, enjoy some good food, and gather together as a community, what exactly is Lag B’Omer?
Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer, the seven-week journey between Passover and Shavuot, when we count the days from leaving Egypt until receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.
It is a day that carries two powerful stories at its core.
The first is the story of Rabbi Akiva. He began learning Torah only at the age of 40 and went on to become one of the greatest teachers in Jewish history, with thousands of students. Yet during a tragic period, those students were lost in a devastating plague. Lag B’Omer marks the day the dying stopped.
But the story doesn’t end there. Rabbi Akiva did not give up. After mourning the loss, he began again — rebuilding the future of Torah by teaching a new generation of students (5!), including Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the author of the Zohar, is also closely associated with Lag B’Omer, as it is the day of his passing. The Zohar describes how, on the day of his passing, he revealed profound mystical teachings to his students and asked that this day be marked not with sorrow, but with joy.
Over time, this day became associated with light and fire, symbolizing the spiritual illumination of his Torah teachings and the “light” he brought into the world. This is the basis for the widespread custom of lighting bonfires on Lag B’Omer, especially in connection with his yartzeit.
And that’s exactly what we’ll be celebrating together this Tuesday - resilience, joy, and the power of Jewish light that continues to grow even after hardship.
We hope you will join us on this special day! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
P.S. Although Chaiki will be celebrating her birthday in Israel this year, we’ll still be celebrating here too — with birthday cake and lots of good wishes!
P.P.S. Also — don’t worry about the weather forecast. We’re still on and looking forward to a wonderful afternoon together.
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2 days ago