What is Lag Ba’Omer? Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count—this year, May 16, 2025—is a festive day on the Jewish calendar that honors Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar. It is celebrated with outings (on which children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, parades and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron, northern Israel) of Rabbi Shimon, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.
What Does Lag Ba’Omer mean? Lag BaOmer is always on the 18th day of the month of Iyar. So what’s up with the name? The word “Lag” is made of of the Hebrew letters lamed (ל) and gimel (ג), which together have the numerical value of 33. “BaOmer” means “of the Omer.” The Omer is the counting period that begins on the second day of Passover and culminates with the holiday of Shavuot, following day 49. Hence Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the Omer count, which coincides with 18 Iyar.
