The Doors had a hit song called, "Light My Fire". Were they singing about Lag BaOmer? Why does everyone in Israel get so "fired up" on Lag BaOmer? There are two main historical events connected to Lag BaOmer. Firs, the Talmud Yevamot 62 states that during the time of Rabbi Akiva, 24,000 of his students died from a Divinely sent plague during the days of the counting of the Omer between Pesach and Shavuot. The Talmud goes on to say that this was a punishment because Rabbi Akiva's disciples did not show love and respect to each other. They were jealous and begrudged each other's spiritual levels and achievements.

We celebrate Lag BaOmer as the traditional day that this plague was over and Rabbi Akiva's students stopped dying. The Zohar gives another reason for Lag BaOmer. It recounts that the great sage, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai died late in the day on Lag BaOmer, and the sun miraculously did not set until he died. Thus, there is the Kabbalistic tradition of lighting candles and bon fires on Lag BaOmer. Also, customs of mourning for Rabbi Akiva's disciples, held during the days from Pesach till Shavuot, are suspended and stopped on Lag BaOmer. 

But what does Lag BaOmer mean today? What is the message for us in our daily lives?

Perhaps, these two ideas, the mourning for Rabbi Akiva's students and the lighting of bon fires for Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's Yartzeiht are connected.

Think of a camp fire or a bon fire. It provides a warm glow. You can roast marshmellows and hotdogs around the camp fire, gather around and bond with other people. Everyone is attracted to a fire. Throughout the Torah, G-D always appears to human beings in a fire. For example, G-D appeared to Moshe as a flame in the burning bush and to the entire Jewish people as a Devouring Fire on top of Mount Sinai (Shemot 24). Thus, a fire brings people together.

The idea of Lag BaOmer and the lighting of fires is to bring us together. Rabbi Akiva's disciples grew apart, the bon fires of Lag BaOmer are supposed to bring us together.

It's strange, but in today's age, although we are more connected to each other than ever before thanks to technology, we seem to be more disconnected to the people around us. We see people sitting together but instead of talking to each other, each one is engrossed in texting someone else through their mobile phone and whatsapp.

So on Lag BaOmer, for one night a year, we should put away our smart phones and dumb phones and show respect and love for each other.

This can be the Tikkun for Rabbi Akiva's disciples who had no respect and love for each other.