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Why the Bow and Arrow on Lag BaOmer?


By Rochel Chein

Answer:

The custom of playing with bows and arrows on Lag BaOmer, the day that marks the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, symbolizes our sages proclamation that not a single rainbow appeared in the sky during the lifetime of this great sage.1

The rainbow first appeared after the flood, and represents G‑d's promise to never again destroy the world by flood. The rainbow appears when the world is deserving of punishment. The merit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai protected his entire generation and no rainbow appeared during his lifetime.

The Hebrew word for rainbow, keshet, also translates as bow.2

Please see The Kabbalah of the Bow and Arrow from our Lag BaOmer section.

Rochel Chein
for the Judaism Website
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FOOTNOTES
1.

Bereishit Rabbah 35:2.
2.

Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Shapiro of Dynov (1783-1841), Bnei Yisaschar, Chodesh Iyar, Ch. 4.

By Rochel Chein   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Mrs. Rochel Chein is a member of the chabad.org Ask the Rabbi team.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: June 16, 2011
To Shevy
the reason why no rainbow is a good sign is because it shows that G-d didn't get angry in the first place, so no need to show us that He's holding back His anger!
Posted By YYRaskin, MEL, Australia
via chabadbentleigh.com

Posted: May 22, 2011
sources please
Based on what do you claim that lagh ba`omer is the day that marks the passing of Rashbi?

I saw a source from Ben Ish Hai saying that this is not the case.
Posted By Ariel Weber, Jerusalem, Israel

Posted: May 22, 2011
Confusingish
if there was no rainbow, why is that good? if the rainbow represents G-d withholding punishment from a world that is deserving, wouldn't the absence of a rainbow be somewhat worrisome in a regular/not-so-good nation?
Posted By shevy, New Haven, CT



 


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