Today is Lag B’Omer, the most baffling holiday on the Jewish calendar. But if you stop and think about it, it’s similar to a modern, secular holiday: Burning Man. Think about it, it’s a rollicking good time, but few people actually bother to observe it. But the similarities don’t stop there. Squint (there’s smoke in your eyes, after all), and these are the ways the lines between Lag B’Omer and Burning Man start to blur:

1. Bonfires (Duh)— Isn’t it getting a bit warm for a big fire? Maybe, but that doesn’t stop either celebration (just do it at night)! Plus, Burning Man ends with the immolation of a giant effigy, and in Israel, burning effigies of enemies to the Jewish people is also popular.
2. Music— For observant Jews, live music is forbidden during the Omer, and the ban is lifted on Lag B’Omer. So of course people go all out— concerts, dancing, guitars by the bonfire, you name it! Burning Man also has lots of musical elements; for example, this year’s festival in August will feature a musical robot that creates tunes based on the weather. Really.
3. Pagan roots— Burning Man takes its central ritual from the ancient druid rite of the wicker man (not to be confused with either film). As for Lag B’Omer, like all Jewish rituals, we try to ignore its pre-Jewish roots. But ask someone what’s up with the bows and arrows, and fires, and the significance of the day (something something plague! something something Roman revolt!), and it never quite adds up. Seriously, look at the Wikipedia edit history for the festival to see a lot of discussion of paganism that got cut out.
4. Self-sufficiency— Get out there, Jewish child, and try out this bow and arrow! Maybe play a sport! Have a barbecue; everything we need is here! As for the Nevada festival, the you have to live in the dessert as a community, with its own supplies and economy.
5. Tribalism— For the Jews, this needs no elaboration. For Burning Man, have you ever met a Burner? They are a people unto themselves (with lots of tiny camps/factions, of course).
6. They are super-trippy— Lag B’Omer is a highly kabbalistic holiday, the type of spirituality that can feel a bit like drugs. As for Burning Man, there are just scads of literal drugs. (Plus, come on— you know someone, somewhere has shown up to a Lag B’Omer celebration on acid.)
7. None of it makes any sense— Perhaps the polite term would be that both celebrations have strong enigmatic elements. Really, they’re both super hard to explain, and really have to be experienced rather than rationalized.

For what it’s worth Israel’s version of Burning Man, Midburn (a pun on Midbar, which means wildnerness), takes place in the Negev in less than a fortnight, ending as Shavuot begins. Missed opportunity, Israeli burners! Or, consider today your warmup—a literal one, since, once again, the common thread here is fire.

Photo of Burning Man, 2009 by Mindaugas Danys, via Flickr.

The post 7 Reasons Why Lag B’Omer is the Jewish Burning Man appeared first on Jewcy.

Happy Lag BaOmer— the Jewish holiday that… um… something about bonfires and bows and arrows!

Yes, Lag BaOmer can be a holiday more about ritual than meaning (its origin is unclear), but it happens to be a day of great kabbalistic import (someone tell Madonna).  So let’s get real spiritual and finish out the holiday with a special yoga routine (the links take you to instructions).

Yoga moves courtesy of Jewcy contributor Rachel Jacobs:

1. Corpse pose: One piece of Lag BaOmer lore is that it’s the day that ended a terrible plague that wiped out tens of thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s followers. So we can start there as we leave mourning behind.
2. Conqueror breath: Let’s transition to something more active as we demand victory (more on that historical bit next).
3. Sun Salutation: If you can face down a Lag BaOmer bonfire while you make amazing s’mores, then you can face the sun.
4. Warrior Pose: Especially in modern times and in Israel, there is a connection between Lag BaOmer and the Bar Kokhba revolt, so be a warrior!
5. Warrior Pose II: The rebellion was a failure. Do another pose, this time with a bit of melancholy.
6. Hero Pose: This sitting position is a good wind down, but use the title to think of it as a reminder for Jewish courage throughout history. Or something.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this yoga journey through Lag BaOmer. Now go shoot an arrow at something, you crazy kids!

Image Credit: YouTube.com

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The minor (but very fun) Jewish holiday of Lag B’Omer begins this Saturday night! What better way to celebrate than by eating some delicious, gooey s’mores by a bonfire? There is no better way, trust.

If you’re a little confused as to what this holiday is all about, you’re not alone—its origins are kind of vague. The literal meaning is straightforward: “Lag” is simply the acronym of the Hebrew letters ‘lamed’ and ‘gimmel’, which have a combined numerical value of 33, and the Omer is the period of 49 days between Passover and Shavuot that we count and observe as a period of semi-mourning. It’s said that 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died during this period—either as part of the Bar Kochba revolt (132–136 CE), or in a plague wrought by God as punishment for sinat chinam (baseless hatred)—and that Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day, marked a respite from battle or disease.

Anyway! The TL;DR version of the story is that Lag B’Omer is a day for weddings, first haircuts (upsherin), festivities, and bonfires. Which means bonfire food! Which means S’MORES. Thank you for being patient. Here are your recipes.

1. Not Your Bubbe’s Peanut Butter Lag B’Omer S’mores: Your basic s’more, with a PB & Oreo twist.

2. S’mores Rugelach: Old country, meet new country. These look amazing, taste amazing, and are ridiculously easy to make.

3. Homemade Whole Wheat Graham Crackers S’mores: Real balabostas bake from scratch; everyone else should just feel very bad about themselves. (Kidding!)

4. S’mores Cheesecake With Summer Berries: Because Shavuot is just 17 days after Lag B’Omer, and you need to perfect your Cheesecake-making skillz, right?

5. Banana Boat S’mores: They’re healthy…ish! Wrap in aluminum foil and throw onto the edge of fire—just close enough to get melty and gooey.

6. Martha Stewart’s Matzo S’more: Old matzah is transformed—transformed, I tell you—by the s’morification process. I made these on Saturday night. I wouldn’t lie to you.

7. Summer S’Mores Martini: Because we wouldn’t want you to get thirsty.

Image: Shutterstock

The post 7 Decadent S’mores Recipes For Lag B’Omer appeared first on Jewcy.

Among the many perks of attending my Jewish day school in Ohio was the school-wide color war known as Maccabiah. An artful blend of competition, education, and student leadership, it was the perfect way to celebrate spring’s arrival and, of course, Lag B’Omer—the 33rd day in the annual counting of the omer between Passover and Shavuot. I still remember my first year participating, dressed head-to-toe in green and cheering nonsensically in Hebrew. My cousin, a sixth grader, was one of our team captains and when we won, he lifted me on to his shoulders in celebration—I had never felt so cool in my seven years of life.

While its contemporary manifestation, which takes place this Sunday, is largely characterized by similar celebrations, mostly in the form of outdoor bonfires, Lag B’Omer has a complicated history. In the Bible, this period between Passover and Shavuot was marked by a barley offering made at the Temple in Jerusalem, which permitted ancient Jews to eat grains from the new harvest. In the first century, the omer period was characterized by a plague that decimated Rabbi Akiva’s students. There are various opinions, but either the deaths stopped on the 33rd day or there were only 33 days of death, but Lag B’Omer, or the letters lamud and gimmel which add up to 33 in gematria, was designated as a day of celebration.

But the Lag B’Omer traditions don’t stop there. After the death of thousands of his students, Rabbi Akiva chose to only teach five men; one of them, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the author of the Zohar, died on Lag B’Omer. To this day, per Shimon bar Yochai’s request, thousands converge on his grave in Meron to celebrate his life with bonfires, singing, and eating. The bonfire is said to be attributed to the idea that his spirituality was a light to the world that he left behind.

Though Lag B’Omer has plenty of stories behind it, unlike every other Jewish holiday, it doesn’t have much of a food tradition. Capitalizing on the festive spirit and bonfires, I’m going to start a new food tradition here and now: the Lag B’Omer s’more. Anyone who has gone camping knows the diversity of delicious foods that can come from cooking over an open fire. From assorted vegetables and cheese wrapped in tinfoil to hot dogs grilled on a stick, the possibilities are numerous and delightful. But, of course, the quintessential bonfire treat is the s’more.

There is a fine art to roasting the perfect marshmallow. I say art because there really is a range of tastes—some like it charred, others prefer a pale golden hue, and there are those who like a robust brown. A lot of people hate on Kosher marshmallows, but I’ve found that there’s little that can ruin the graham cracker-melted chocolate-toasted marshmallow combination. But there are certainly ways to take it to the next level. Peanut butter is a natural friend of the graham cracker and with all of the childhood memories coming up, the most fantastic innovation that came to mind: adding peanut butter and Oreo to the mix, a la Parent Trap. As if s’mores weren’t already sweet and sticky enough! The warmth of the marshmallows softens the peanut butter into a salty-sweet mess and the Oreos add extra crunch … and chocolate.

Not Your Bubbe’s Lag B’Omer S’more
Ingredients:
4 marshmallows, toasted
1 bar dark chocolate
8 graham crackers, broken in half
4 Oreos
Peanut butter, as desired

Assembly:

Method 1: Place one square of chocolate on half of a graham cracker and top with toasted marshmallow. On the other half of the graham cracker, spread a thick layer of peanut butter and sprinkle with crushed Oreos. Put the two halves together.

Method 2: Place one square of chocolate on half of a graham cracker and top with toasted marshmallow. Spread a thick layer of peanut butter on an Oreo. Put the Oreo, peanut butter face down, on top of the marshmallow.

Also try:

Not Your Bubbe’s Spelt Honey Challah

Not Your Bubbe’s Modern Gefilte Fish Fillet

Not Your Bubbe’s Kosher for Passover Flourless Cake

The post Not Your Bubbe’s Recipe: Peanut Butter Lag B’Omer S’mores appeared first on Jewcy.