Use your words to breathe new life into others
L ag B’omer marks a transition between a period of punishment and an opportunity to start over. The punishment occurred because Jews failed to love and respect each other resulting in a plague of death — a seemingly harsh punishment for “not being nice.”
Yet death albeit indirect is what occurs when people are unkind to each other. When one feels rejected by another a sort of spiritual death is experienced. Sometimes it’s a minor feeling indicating a lessening of the life force. Other times it can be intense enough to make a person feel like leaving this world altogether: “If I can’t find love what’s the point in living?” “The way they treat me makes me feel like I don’t want to be here anymore.”
Feeling unloved or unwanted can be so painful that it can lead to death. This is one of the essential lessons of Lag B’omer.
Treating someone well is an act of loving healing and supporting. “Great to see you!” is a simple acknowledgment of the value of the person’s existence yet it can make a person feel welcome in the world embraced in positive social connection.
