Here are a few recommendations of what one can daven for on this holy day:
1] Children
Lag b'Omer is mesugal for the barren to bear children. The Midrash (Shir HaShirim Rabba 1) states: A person from Tzidon (Eretz Yisrael) married a woman and waited ten years, but she still did not bear a child. They came to Reb Shimon bar Yochai and told him they wanted to divorce. Reb Shimon replied, "I swear, just as you got married with food and drink, you should divorce amidst food and drink." They made a big meal, and she gave him a lot to drink. Then, in this happy state, he told her, "My daughter, take any good item you wish and bring it to your parent's home." He fell asleep, and the wife motioned to her servants to carry her husband in his bed to her parent's home. In the middle of the night, he awoke. The wine had worn off. "My daughter, where am I?" he asked. She told him that he was in her parent's home. "Why am I in your parent's home?" She said, "Didn't you tell me I can take anything I want to my parent's home? There is nothing that I want in the world more than you!" They returned to Reb Shimon bar Yochai, he davened for them, and they had a child. The Midrash concludes, "Hakadosh Baruch Hu helps the barren, so do tzaddikim."
Tzaddikim teach that in order to bear children, one is advised to have kavanah by the brachah of רפאנו in Shemonah Esrei. The Shem Shlomo of Munkacz zt’l taught that Lag b'Omer is mesugal for refuah (as we will discuss), so Lag b’Omer is also mesugal for bearing children.
The Gemara (Makos 17:) states that a mother should daven that her children should be like Reb Shimon bar Yochai. The Minchas Elazar (Shaar Yissaschar) says that the Gemara refers to one who is davening on Lag b'Omer. On this day, anything is possible. On this day, one can ask for the most incredible things – even that one's child be like Reb Shimon bar Yochai.
2] Parnassah
The Chasam Sofer (Yorah Deiah 233) makes the following calculation: Chazal tell us that when the Yidden left Mitzrayim, they ate matzos for thirty days. They finished the matzos on Pesach Sheini. The Midrash adds that they didn’t have food for three days, and then on the next day, the mann fell. According to this calculation, the mann first came down on Lag b'Omer, indicating that it is an ideal day to daven for parnassah.
3] Shidduchim
About Reb Shimon, it states (in the song Bar Yochai) הלחוצים הציל, "He saves those who are stressed and worried," and who is more stressed and worried than someone awaiting their shidduch? This is because we can daven and receive salvations for all our needs, and as we wrote, this is in Meron and elsewhere, as well. In Reb Shimon's merit, our tefillos will be answered.
4] Yiras Shamayim
The Sfas Emes (Emor 5652) writes, "I heard from my grandfather [the Chidushei HaRim zt’l] that on Lag b'Omer, one can attain yiras Shamayim." The Imrei Emes zt'l explains: Look at Tehillim (chapter 19). There are five pasukim to praise Torah and mitzvos, and each line has five words:
- נפש משיבת תמימה 'ה תורת, "Hashem's Torah is perfect, restoring the soul."
- פתי מחכימת נאמנה 'ה עדות, "The testimony of Hashem is trustworthy, making the simple one wise."
- לב משמחי ישרים 'ה פקודי, "Hashem's orders are upright, gladdening the heart."
- עינים מאירת ברה 'ה מצות, "Hashem's mitzvos are clear, enlightening the eyes."
- לעד עומדת טהורה 'ה יראת, "The fear of Hashem is pure, enduring forever."
The fifth phrase, which has five words, discusses yiras Hashem. This is similar to Lag b'Omer, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth week. The Imrei Emes says that this hints that Lag b'Omer is an ideal time to attain yiras Shamayim.
5] Refuah
יוחאי בר שמעון is gematriya ורפאתיו. This hints to us that Lag b'Omer is a day mesugal for refuah.
It is known that the sefirah הוד is mesugal for refuah. Reb Pinchas of Koritz zt’l adds that Lag b'Omer, whose sefirah is שבהוד הוד, is certainly mesugal for refuah. Rebbe Pinchas of Koritz taught that if one needs to take medication, he should begin taking it on Lag b’Omer.
