Tuesday night / Wednesday (the 14th day of Iyar) of this week is Pesach Sheini (the second Pesach). That is, when our Temple was standing, one who was spiritually impure or far from Jerusalem, could offer the Pesach sacrifice one month later, on Pesach Sheini. Many have a custom to eat matzoh on this day. Also, owing to the celebratory nature of the day, Tachanun is not said at Shacharis or Mincha.
Saturday night / Sunday (the 18th day of Iyar) of this week is Lag B’Omer (the 33rd day of the Omer). The mourning restrictions of the Omer period, i.e. listening to music, shaving and taking haircuts, weddings, etc. don’t apply any more beginning with Lag B’Omer. Since Shabbos immediately preceeds Lag B’Omer this year, one may already take a haircut and shave on Friday, in honor of Shabbos. Listening to music is still forbidden until Lag B’Omer.
Wishing everyone a wonderful week.
Rabbi Yaakov Rich
Dear Rav. Rich,
Please, tell us more about the Lag B’Omer, the meaning of it, the customs and the special food if any at this day.
Thank you!
Bela,
Here is the answer to your question.
The 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar is known as Lag B’Omer (the 33rd day of the Omer). This is the day when the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva, all of whom had been stricken by a plague, stopped dying. The day is also observed as a celebration in honor of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the great student of Rabbi Akiva, who upon his deathbed revealed to the Jewish world the secrets of the holy Zohar. Tachanun is not said. Weddings are held, and haircutting and shaving is permissible. (This year one may get a haircut and shave the Friday before in honor of Shabbos).
The day is celebrated with dancing and singing and the kindling of large bonfires, in honor of the holy Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. On this day it also became customary to cut the hair of children who had reached the age of three. It is also customary for children to play with bows and arrows on Lag B’Omer, according to the tradition that the rainbow was not seen in the sky during the life of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. His merit was sufficient to protect the world agains destruction, and the earth had no need for the “sign of the rainbow” which indicates G-d’s anger at the world for its misdeeds, as describe in Parshas Noach in the book of Bereishis (Genesis).