Lag B'Omer celebrations

THIS YEAR: Thousands at Mt. Meron as Lag B’Omer bonfires lit throughout Israel. Health and fire authorities on alert to treat injuries and blazes during annual celebration (DANIEL STIEGLITZ, Times of Israel).

Throngs of Israelis celebrated Lag B’Omer with traditional bonfires throughout the country Wednesday night, with thousands visiting the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron in northern Israel.

Lag B’Omer, which is observed on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar and the 33rd day of the Omer — the seven-week period between the festivals of Passover and Shavuot — is the anniversary of the death of the rabbi, a prominent sage and mystic who lived in ancient Israel in the second century CE.

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This is just one of a number of reports on last night's festivities. The holiday continues until sundown this evening.

Background here and links.