KIRYAS JOEL - 50,000 expected for Lag Ba’omer

KIRYAS JOEL — Tens of thousands of Satmar Hasidim are expected to descend on Kiryas Joel Saturday night and dance for hours around a giant bonfire for an annual religious celebration known as Lag Baomer.

The holiday honors a revered scholar who wrote parts of the Talmud and other sacred Jewish texts almost 2,000 years ago.

The celebration, which marks the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Simeon bar Yochai, originated in the Israeli village where he's buried.

As many as 50,000 people are expected in Kiryas Joel for the bonfire, which begins at 11 p.m., according to Satmar publicists.