Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center
Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center
Laurie & Joe Brofsky - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center
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holidays<br />
LAG B’OMER HIKE & PICNIC<br />
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 10:30 AM AT MASSAPEQUA STATE PARK<br />
We will meet there, take a nice leisurely hike led by Shari Zagorski and then<br />
everyone is welcome to stay and picnic. Please bring your own food!<br />
Massapequa Preserve is 423 undeveloped acres of woodlands, ponds, lakes and freshwater wetlands with hundreds of<br />
species of plants and animals. We will do a hike on the wooded trails. The terrain is very flat, but because of the roots, boots<br />
(or good footwear) are recommended.<br />
Directions to meeting point (Brady Park, Massapequa Park): Approximately 2 miles east of Rte 135; From NY 27 (Sunrise<br />
Hwy), take Park Blvd north under Massapequa Park LIRR station, then immediate left onto Front Street; go 4 blocks west to Lake<br />
Shore Drive, then right on Lake Shore Drive to Brady Park (on left), 1/2 block ahead. Park in lot or on street, and meet at<br />
parking lot next to small building (restrooms available). MAP IT: http://maps.google.com<br />
Questions Email sharimit@yahoo.com or call Shari at 678-7460.<br />
LAG B’OMER<br />
Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer (the 49 days counted be tween Pesach and Shavuot), which this year falls on<br />
May 22. Having no calendar, the Jews of ancient times counted the days from the second day of Pesach (the start of the<br />
cereal harvest) until Shavuot, when they would gather the harvest. Lag B’Omer is a solitary joyous day in this solemn<br />
period of the <strong>Jewish</strong> calendar, when so much <strong>Jewish</strong> persecution is remembered. On this day, we remem ber the miraculous<br />
cessation of a terrible plague that raged among Rabbi Akiva’s students.<br />
The yahrzeit of Simeon Bar Yohai, a great <strong>Jewish</strong> scholar who hid<br />
in a cave, living off carob and spring water when the Romans forbade the<br />
study of Torah, is also comme morated. When his students came to visit<br />
him, they disguised themselves as hunters with bows and arrows, hence<br />
the bows and arrows children play with on Lag B’Omer today. We also<br />
remember the amazing determination and bravery of Bar Kochba and his<br />
small, ill-equipped <strong>Jewish</strong> army in withstanding the mighty Roman army<br />
for three long years.<br />
In most countries, Lag B’Omer is celebrated with picnics, field days<br />
and games of skill. In Israel, many Jews visit the grave of Rabbi Simeon<br />
Bar Yohai in Meron. Bonfires are lit and there is singing and dancing<br />
throughout the night because Rabbi Bar Yohai requested that his followers<br />
celebrate, rather than mourn, his death. The bonfires also remind us<br />
that the torch of <strong>Jewish</strong> learning continues to burn, despite cruel persecutions<br />
by tyrants throughout the centuries.<br />
page 10 MAY/JUNE 2011 www.herjc.org HAKOL