It’s time to finally wish Facebook “mazel tov!”
Not on an announcement at their F8 developers' conference yesterday, but on something decidedly more celebratory: the words “mazel tov” themselves.
Keen Facebook users may have noticed that for the past year, certain keywords have activated a delightfully surprising animation. Sharing words like “congrats” and “rad” have caused streams of little balloons and thumbs-ups to fly across the screen. While the words “mazel tov” in the original Hebrew have long triggered an animation, those wishing to send their mazels in English have heretofore been left out.
Now, however, the English words trigger the same digital response. Though it’s not clear exactly when the change went into effect, the timing on the eve of Lag BaOmer couldn’t be better.
Lag Baomer, the 33rd day of the Omer count between Passover and Shavuot, commemorates the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar. On a yahrzeit, the soul is at its greatest strength, shining forth to those below as it is elevated ever higher. And mazel tov, represents the flow of blessings, goodness, and inspiration from above and below.
So why not take the chance to give someone a blessing and wish them “mazel tov”—now with an added Facebook animation?
