Lag Ba-Omer marks the end of a plague that killed thousands of Jewish scholars in ancient times, as well as the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who had rebelled against Roman rule and is believed to be the author of the Zohar, the core text of Kabbalah mysticism. Holiday traditions include lighting bonfires and cutting the hair of three-year-old boys for the first time.
 1Rabbi David Gross lights a bonfire for Lag Ba-Omer in Ashdod. Lag Ba-Omer marks the end of a plague that killed thousands of Jewish scholars in ancient times, as well as the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who had rebelled against Roman rule and is believed to be the author of the Zohar, the core text of Kabbalah mysticism. Holiday traditions include lighting bonfires and cutting the hair of three-year-old boys for the first time. AMIR COHEN/REUTERS
 2Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men look at a bonfire lit on Lag Ba-Omer in Ashdod. AMIR COHEN/REUTERS
 3Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children look at a bonfire lit on Lag Ba-Omer in Ashdod. AMIR COHEN/REUTERS
 4An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy walks near a bonfire lit on Lag Ba-Omer in Ashdod. AMIR COHEN/REUTERS
 5Ultra-Orthodox Jews stand around a bonfire lit on Lag Ba-Omer in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhood. AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS
 6Ultra-Orthodox Jews stand around a bonfire lit on Lag Ba-Omer in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhood. AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS
 7Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boys, girls and women look at a bonfire on Lag Ba-Omer in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhood. AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS
 8Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men carry their sons as they dance around a bonfire on Lag Ba-Omer in Jerusalem. AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS
 9Ultra-Orthodox Jews stand around a bonfire lit on Lag Ba-Omer in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhood. AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS
 10Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men cast shadows as they look at a bonfire on Lag Ba-Omer in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighbourhood. AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS
 11Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim celebrate Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 12Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hassidim celebrate Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 13Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim celebrate Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 14Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim celebrate Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 15Rabbi Taitelbaum stands near a bonfire during the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 16Boys watch a bonfire burn during the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 17Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim celebrate Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 18A young boy watches a bonfire burn as Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 19Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hassidim crowd together as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 20Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hasidim celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 21Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hassidim crowd together as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 22Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hassidim dance together as they celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 23A young boy watches a bonfire burn as Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hassidim dance and celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 24Orthodox Jews of the Satmar Hassidim celebrate the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer in the village of Kiryas Joel, New York. MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS
 25An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man carries his three-year-old son as he dances around a bonfire lit on the Jewish holiday of Lag Ba-Omer in Jerusalem. AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS |