This week we celebrated the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba’Omer,
which takes place on the 33rd day of the “Omer” – the period between
the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. One of the most colorful features of Lag Ba’Omer
in our days is the lighting of bonfires, symbolizing the short-lived victory of
the Jews led by Bar Kochba against the Roman Empire almost 2,000 years ago. The
heroism behind that rebellion, signifying the determination of the Jewish people
living in Israel to attain religious and national freedom, fills us with pride
to this day, pride which is reflected in the sight of the numerous bonfires lit
across the land.
Today, when the religious and national freedoms Bar Kochba and
his men were fighting for have been attained through the establishment of the State
of Israel, that pride takes on another dimension. We celebrate not only Israel’s
existence, but its many accomplishments as well in areas of science, innovation,
business and culture, to name a few. These stem from the single most important
resource Israel has, the same resource that led to the Bar Kochba revolt in the
year 132 – our human resources. This Lag Ba’Omer is a good time for us to
appreciate and continue cultivating this precious resource.
Shabbat Shalom,
Yaron Sideman
Consul General Of Israel,
Mid-Atlantic Region
Consul General Of Israel,
Mid-Atlantic Region
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