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The Omer
We count the Omer for 49 days, starting on the second night of Pesach/Passover and ending with Shavuot. In 2026/5786 the Omer period begins the evening of April 2 and concludes May 21 before sunset.
Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, falls from sundown May 4 – sundown May 5.
About This Holiday
Learn from: Aish (Orthodox) | Chabad (Orthodox) | Exploring Judaism (Conservative) | My Jewish Learning (non-denominational) | Reform Judaism
Events
All events listed at Central Time and are on Zoom if no location is noted. Submit an event here.
Lag B’Omer Special Learning (Beth El) 7 PM Monday, May 4. Beth El (5225 Barry St W, St Louis Park)
Men’s Night Out Lag B’Omer BBQ & Bonfire (Chabad Maple Grove) 7:30 PM Monday, May 4. RSVP for location
Lag Baomer Bonfire & BBQ (Chabad Macalester-Groveland) 8 PM Monday, May 4. RSVP for location
Lag Baomer BBQ (Chabad Greater St Paul) 5 PM Tuesday, May 5. RSVP for location
Lag BaOmer Bonfire & Drum Circle (Chabad Macalester-Groveland) 5 PM Tuesday, May 5. Fine Violins (1850 Grand Ave, St Paul)
Community Lag Baomer Celebration (Chabad Minneapolis) 5:30 PM Tuesday, May 5. Chabad Minneapolis (11033 Hillside Ln W, Minnetonka)
Lag Baomer BBQ (Chabad Southern MN) 5:30 PM Tuesday, May 5. Cascade Lake Picnic Shelter (88 23rd Ave SW, Rochester)
Lag B’omer BBQ & Music Night (Chabad YJP) 7 PM Tuesday, May 5. Chabad YJP (3017 James Ave S, Minneapolis) $18-20
Young Adult Lag BaOmer Event (Temple of Aaron) 7 PM Tuesday, May 5. RSVP for location
Counting the Omer through the Jewish Studio Process (Beth Jacob) 6:30 PM Tuesdays, May 12, 19, & 26. Beth Jacob (1179 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights) $100
Self-Guided Practices
Immigration Journeys: Counting the Omer 5786 (Temple Israel)
49 Steps (Limmud North America)
My Omer: 49 Steps to Personal Refinement (Meaningful Life Center)
The Omer Workbook: A 49 Day Self-Care Immersion (Gold Herring)
Further Resources & Tools
Lag B’Omer & Sefirat Ha’Omer Source Sheets (Sefaria)
The Omer: What Are We Counting? And Why? (TC Jewfolk)
Omer Ceremonies, Poems, Songs & more (Ritualwell)
What is the Lag BaOmer pilgrimage? (The Conversation)
Writing & Videos on The Omer/Lag B’Omer (The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust)
The Israeli Yamim
“The Yamim” (plural of “yom,” or days) are a closely-bunched group of modern spring holidays that fall in the weeks after Passover.
Yom HaShoah — which commemorates approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and the Jewish resistance in that period — is on 27 Nisan, or sunset April 13 – sunset April 14 in 2026/5786.
Yom HaZikaron — Israel’s official remembrance day, traditionally dedicated to fallen soldiers, also extended to civilian victims of terrorism — is on 4 Iyar, or sunset April 20 – sunset April 21 in 2026/5786.
Yom HaAtzmaut — commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948 — is on 5 Iyar, corresponding to sunset April 21 – sunset April 22 in 2026/5786.
Yom Yerushalayim — commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in the aftermath of the June 1967 Six-Day War — is on 28 Iyar, from sunset May 14 – sunset May 15 in 2026/5786.
About These Holidays
Learn from: Aish (Orthodox) | Exploring Judaism (Conservative) | My Jewish Learning (non-denominational) | Reform Judaism
Events
Events listed at Central Time and are on Zoom if no location is noted. Submit an event here.
Yom Yerushalayim Shabbat Service Featuring Violins of Hope (Minnesota JCC) 6 PM Friday, May 15. Adath Jeshurun (10500 Hillside Ln W, Minnetonka)
Further Resources & Tools
Articles on Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron | Yom HaAtzmaut | Yom Yerushalayim (Orthodox Union)
The Heavy, Sacred Burden of Legacy (TC Jewfolk)
My Child Learned About The Holocaust Before I Was Ready For It (TC Jewfolk)
Ritual Components for Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron | Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Ritualwell)
Writing & Videos on Yom HaShoah | Yom HaZikaron | Yom Ha’atzmaut | Yom Yerushalayim (Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust)
Articles on Yom Ha-atzmaut (Rabbinical Assembly)
Yom Ha’atzmaut with Children (PJ Library)
Yom HaAtzmaut & Yom Yerushalayim Source Sheets (Sefaria)
Shavuot
In 5786/2026, Shavuot is sundown May 21 – sundown May 22.
About This Holiday
Learn from: Aish (Orthodox) | Chabad (Orthodox) | Exploring Judaism (Conservative) | My Jewish Learning (non-denominational) | Reform Judaism
Events
All events listed at Central Time and are on Zoom if no location is noted. Submit an event here.
Women’s Cheesecake Bake (Chabad Maple Grove) 7:30 PM Monday, May 11. RSVP for location. $30
Shavuot Cheesecake Demo + Tasting with Zehorit Heilicher (TC Jewfolk’s FolkLab) 6:30 PM Tuesday, May 12. Nordic Ware Factory Store (4925 County Road 25/Highway 7, St Louis Park) $36
Ice Cream Social (Chabad Macalester-Groveland) 5 PM Thursday, May 14. Shoreview Commons Park (4630 Victoria St N, Shoreview)
Stories & Sh’ma – Shavuot Edition (Adath Jeshurun) 7 PM Thursday, May 14
Shavuot Party (Cteen) 5:30 PM Monday, May 18. Chabad Minneapolis (11033 Hillside Ln W, Minnetonka)
Sivan New Moon Circle: Floral Workshop (Chabad Macalester-Groveland) 7 PM Monday, May 18. RSVP for location
Party in the Parking Lot: Celebrate Shavuot (PJ Library Minneapolis) 5:15 Wednesday, May 20. RSVP for location
Young Family Programs with pizza & ice cream (Beth El) 5:30 PM Thursday, May 21. Beth El (5225 Barry St W, St Louis Park)
Shavuot Dinner (Beth Jacob) 6:30 PM Thursday, May 21. Beth Jacob (1179 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights)
Tikkun Leil Shavuot Options (Thursday, May 21)
Beth El 7:15 PM – sunrise. Beth El (5225 Barry St W, St Louis Park)
Beth Jacob 7:15 – midnight. Beth Jacob (1179 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights)
Adath Jeshurun 7:30 – 10:30 PM. Adath Jeshurun (10500 Hillside Ln W, Minnetonka)
Chabad Maple Grove 9 PM. RSVP for location
Bikkurim Picnic (Beth Jacob) 12 PM Friday, May 22. Beth Jacob (1179 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights)
Shavuot Dinner (Chabad Macalester-Groveland) 5 PM Friday, May 22. RSVP for location
Celebrate Shavuot (Chabad Duluth) 5 PM Friday, May 22. Chabad Duluth (1122 Valley Dr, Duluth)
Shavuot Dairy Buffet (Chabad Maple Grove) 5:30 PM Friday, May 22. RSVP for location
Cheese Class (NextGen & Moishe House) 6 PM Wednesday, May 27. Broken Clock Brewing Cooperative (1712 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis) $20
Further Resources & Tools
Family activities for Sivan (TALI Education)
Shavuot poetry, blogs, rituals, & more (Ritualwell)
Shavuot source sheets (Sefaria)
Shavuot sustainability resources (Hazon)
Shavuot resources (Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust)
Shavuot with kids (PJ Library)
Tips For Celebrating Shavuot This Year (TC Jewfolk)
Recipes
Blintz Soufflé | Blueberry Balsamic Ice Cream | Syrian Cheese Sambusak, Israeli Bourekas & Israeli Cheesecake (TC Jewfolk)
Shavuot Food (The Nosher)
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