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Reuven Chaim Klein

May 10, 2026, 12:59 AM

Iyyar is in the Air – ziv & iyyar

As the month of Iyyar comes to a close this week, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the two names for “the second month” in the Jewish Calendar — Ziv and Iyyar. That month is very special...

May 7, 2026, 10:51 PM

Beyond the Flames: The Historical Truth of Lag BaOmer

Lag BaOmer is one of the more difficult holidays to define. When you scratch beneath the surface of burnt potatoes and marshmallows, you discover that the familiar story we grew up with is just the tip of the iceberg....

Chava (Patricia) Kadoche

May 7, 2026, 10:15 PM

A Lesson from Lag BaOmer We Still Haven’t Learned

Why Does It Take Tragedy for Us to Become One? Every year, as we approach Lag BaOmer, we’re reminded of a painful truth. Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 students—intellectual giants, people of immense Torah knowledge. And yet, we don’t know their names....

Michael Zoosman

May 6, 2026, 11:31 PM

Knesset’s Second Death Penalty Bill Debases Israel’s Lag Ba’Omer Revelry

The Knesset’s obsession with the death penalty in Israel once again collided with the Jewish liturgical calendar in yet another telling synchronicity, highlighting how that legislative body has upended the Jewish value of life. Many in Israel and across...

May 5, 2026, 6:07 PM

The Adventures of Rabbi Akiva and his 24,000 Students

The celebration of the 33rd day of the Omer has always been shrouded in mystery. Traditionally, there have been two basic explanations:1) The 33rd day of the Omer was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's "day of celebration", or, according to...

May 5, 2026, 8:43 AM

Lag BaOmer: The Fire We Run Towards

Yesterday, as the winds picked up in Jerusalem, I found myself thinking about the fires of Lag BaOmer. Strong winds make bonfires unsafe. Authorities warn. Restrictions are discussed. And yet, the fires are lit, and the crowds gather—undeterred by the...

Jonathan Muskat

May 5, 2026, 6:20 AM

Lag BaOmer – From Extremism to Empathy

The story goes that a Litvak is walking down the street when he passes a Chassidic shtiebel and sees everyone celebrating – dancing, singing, and drinking. Curious, he walks in and asks one of the Chassidim, “Why are you...

May 5, 2026, 12:37 AM

In Honor of Lag Be’omer: The Case For Mysticism

It always saddens me when people conflate creativity with authenticity, as is frequently done by the proponents of Rambam’s theology. Maimonidean thought is creative but that does not mean that it is also necessarily authentically Jewish. I believe that Rambam’s...

May 3, 2026, 6:29 AM

Lag B’Omer, Turn On Your Love Light!

One of my favorite songs that the Grateful Dead used to cover is “Turn On Your Love Light,” written by Joe Scott and recorded by Bobby Bland in 1961. The chorus of this composition is powerful: “Turn on your...

Hadassah Chavivah Zeltzer

May 1, 2026, 8:41 AM

The Little Boy and Girl Cried – Tzedeck Zeltzer

Design by :Tzedeck Zeltzer
Elements licensed by :Canva.com

B"H April 30th 2026 13 Iyyar 5786 י״ג בְּאִיָיר תשפ״ו May Yossef ben Avraham of blessed memory Have an Aaliyah in Heaven! We miss and love you Daddy! "Abba" A Poem for all of Hashem's Children The little girl and boy stood there and cried The little boy and...

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