Q, Kevod Rabbenu Shlit’a. Is it really permitted to dance around a fire on Lag Baomer?
A. Tusefta (Shabbos 7: 1) mentions that clapping hands or dancing while phasing a fire is prohibited as it is similar to the ways and conduct of the Emorites. Similarly Sefer Haikrim (3: 8) is stringent, mentioning that it is one of the ways Christians adopted when convincing the idolaters to follow them.
However, in our days many thousands of people have a custom to spend Lag B’Omer on Mount Meiron, where Rabi Shimon bar Yochai and his son, Rabbi Elazar, are buried. There, they rejoice greatly, and light bonfires, sing, and dance around them. Among those who participate in these celebrations are great and well kown tzaddikim (righteous individuals) and Torah scholars.
As the well known words of the Yerushalmi and other Poskim mention that a well established and proper tradition is to be accepted.
Halichos Shlomo (Moadim 2 p.36:4 80) is lenient on haircuts made at night, mentioning that since bonfires etc. are, the rest of practices should not be any different.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar for those who have that tradition.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a.
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