Written by Talya Wiseman, Head of Jewish Life (High School)

This week we will mark Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer. Lag B’Omer is a day that shines with joy in the midst of a period of mourning. For centuries, Jewish communities have gathered around bonfires, celebrating the life and legacy of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a sage who lit up the world with the fire of Torah, even in times of great darkness.

At its core, Lag B’Omer is a celebration of resilience, identity, and the power of Jewish learning. It is about holding fast to Torah not just as a set of laws or customs, but as a source of light, warmth, and connection.

At Moriah College, this is the essence of what we aim to nurture in our students. From their first brachot in Primary School, to deep discussions in Jewish Studies classes in High School, our learners are not simply memorising Jewish facts, they’re encountering Jewish meaning. They are discovering that Torah is not something distant or ancient, it is alive and relevant in their lives today. Our students see that Torah is not just tales from the past, it is a story that they can shape, own, and add their voice to.

As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l so powerfully wrote: “Our children are the builders of our future. Teach them to know where they came from, and they will know where they are going. Give them a past and they will create a future.”

Rabbi Shimon famously taught that Torah is not just information, it’s illumination. He revealed spiritual depth beneath the surface, reminding us that Jewish learning should ignite curiosity, passion, and a sense of purpose. This is the heart of our mission at Moriah: to educate not just minds, but foster a love and pride of being Jewish deep within our souls.

And in a world where identity is increasingly complex, our role as educators, parents, and a community is to ensure that each child feels proud, confident, and deeply rooted in their heritage.

On Lag B’Omer, students might roast marshmallows and sing around fires. However, beneath the fun is something profound: they are part of an unbroken chain stretching from Mount Sinai to Rabbi Shimon’s cave… and now to the classrooms and playgrounds of Moriah College.

Each lesson, each connection, is a spark – together, they become a flame.