Tonight's the night. Be prepared. No, we're not in fear of chemical warfare, thank G-d, bli eyin haraa. This is Lag B'Omer, the night that Israelis, especially the kids, pollute the air with campfires. These aren't your lovely log cabin Girl Scout campfires.
Here they burn everything, closets, chairs, sticks. Everything but the kitchen sink, and believe me, there are those who try that, too.
My kids were well-trained. After the campfire, straight into the bathroom, strip and shower with lots of soap. I'd spend the morning washing clothes and hope that the air would clear before I needed to hang them out to dry.
Is R. Shimon ben Yochai happy with what is being done in his name? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteThere is a strong argument to be made against various of the popular lag baomer activities on halachic grounds, including the bonfires. They were not done in the old days, not minhag Ashkenaz.
Let's go back to the old time religion!
Happy or not about it, . Shimon ben Yochai would probably admit that things do change. Litvak, personally I think the melding of of Jewish ethnic minhagim is a sign that the Moshiach is getting closer.
ReplyDeleteI think families, schools, youth movements etc should work hard to make sure there's a strong religious, Jewish spiritual level element in the atmosphere around those campfires.