Lag Ba'Omer Celebration

Last night we joined the Chabad community in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'Omer. Literally, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, this holiday commemorates the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. Wikipedia says it best: "Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai [was] a Mishnaic sage and leading disciple of Rabbi Akiva in the 2nd century, and [the day of his death is] the day on which he revealed the deepest secrets of kabbalah in the form of the Zohar, a landmark text of Jewish mysticism."

We celebrate the life of Rabbi Yochai by lighting huge bonfires to symbolize the flame of G-d which took his soul. And, if you're going to have a bonfire you should also have a barbecue!

We meet everyone at Bandemere Park, along the Huron River. We had not visited this park yet, but it was really nice so we'll definitely return.

Israeli BBQ along with pita and falafel were served. Yum!

Then it was time to light the bonfire!

And what's a bonfire without some roasted marshmallows?

A lot of fun, good food, excellent company, and most of all, a roaring fire!