Lag Ba'Omer bonfires light up Israeli night

Jews around Israel gather to light bonfires in celebration of the Lag Ba'Omer holiday.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Lag Baomer bonfire 390 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Lag Baomer bonfire 390
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Bonfires burned brightly Wednesday night as Jews around Israel gathered to celebrate the Lag Ba'Omer holiday.
Lag Ba'Omer (Photo by Marc Israel Sellem)
Lag Ba'Omer (Photo by Marc Israel Sellem)
The holiday – observed between Passover and Shavuot – falls on Iyar 18, or the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer.
Fire lighting ceremony outside the Kaliv (Photo by Jeremy Sharon)
Fire lighting ceremony outside the Kaliv (Photo by Jeremy Sharon)
Many Jews celebrate with bonfires and barbecues.
Lag Ba'Omer (Photo by Marc Israel Sellem)
Lag Ba'Omer (Photo by Marc Israel Sellem)
Lag Ba’omer also marks the end of second-century deadly plague, which killed tens of thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students.
Fire lighting ceremony outside the Kaliv (Photo by Jeremy Sharon)
Fire lighting ceremony outside the Kaliv (Photo by Jeremy Sharon)
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.
Lag Ba'Omer (Photo by Marc Israel Sellem)
Lag Ba'Omer (Photo by Marc Israel Sellem)
Judy Siegel-Itzkovich contributed to this report.