In the weeks between the Jewish holidays of Passover and Shavuot, a plague once raged among the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva. Many wonder if the plague could have been a divine punishment for the students’ relentlessly disrespecting one another's ideas and backgrounds.  On Lag BaOmer, the plague suddenly ceased, and to this day we commemorate the theme of mutual respect and diversity.  

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On this holiday we also recognize the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the first to teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as Kabbalah. It is customary to kindle fires to represent the light he brought into the world. We're doing that too, just inside our barbecue.