“Lag BaOmer”: Kabbalistic Bonfires in Bnei Brak (Tel Aviv)

photographs by Nino Shaye Weiss

THE Bonfires are a symbol for the fighting Jewish spirit. These pictures were taken in Bnei-Brak, a suburb of Tel-Aviv and a center of Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, on the eve of the Jewish holiday Lag BaOmer. The fires are lit to commemorate the Mishnaic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who, according to tradition, died on Lag BaOmer. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai is accredited with having composed the Kabbalistic work The Zohar (literally “The Shining” – hence the custom of lighting fire to commemorate him).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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