Lag Ba’Omer falls on the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer corresponding to the 18th day of the month of Iyar. The origins of the holiday begin with the time of Rabbi Akiva. The Talmud (Yevamot 62b) states that 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students died from a mysterious divine-sent plague. The Talmud then goes on to say that this was because they did not show proper respect to one another, befitting their level. Jews celebrate Lag Ba’omer as the traditional day that this plague ended.