What is the connection between the minor Jewish holiday of bonfires, the second century leader of the Bar Kochba Revolt against the Romans, and the modern Zionist movement? Written by Tuvia Book, an educator, artist and Israeli tour guide, this article explains why the Zionist pioneers adopted Bar Kochba as the symbol of heroic Jewish resistance, celebrated by secular Zionists on Lag B’Omer. It is believed that it was on Lag B’Omer (the 18th of the Hebrew month of Iyar) that Bar Kochba’s army attempted to conquer Jerusalem from the Romans.