Bonfires burned brightly Wednesday night as Jews around Israel gathered to celebrate the Lag Ba'Omer holiday.
The holiday – observed between Passover and Shavuot – falls on Iyar 18, or the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer.
Many Jews celebrate with bonfires and barbecues.
Lag Ba’omer also marks the end of second-century deadly plague, which killed tens of thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students.
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai’s death, a student of Rabbi Akiva who is buried on Mount Meron near Safed.
Judy Siegel-Itzkovich contributed to this report.
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