|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
“Great Parade” – Lag BaOmer Street Fair and Carnival Returns to Bklyn After Six Years
Listen to this article at: TJVNews.com
The Parade, Coming Amid NYC Anti-semtism Surge, Aims to Inspire Jewish Pride Among
Edited by: TJVNews.com
Today, Tuesday, May 9, the “Great Parade” will take place outside of Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York, 11213, before culminating in a street fair and carnival, as part of Lag BaOmer, Jewish holiday celebration.
The parade features creative floats created by children from various schools across New York City as well as live music, entertainment and an all around joyful atmosphere as Jews take to the streets to show their Jewish pride and revel in their culture and heritage.
The phenomenon of Lag BaOmer parades for children, which has since become a global event with parades taking place today in dozens of countries across five continents, was launched in NYC in 1953 by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, the most influential rabbi in modern history, who would preside over the parade in Brooklyn and address the children.
The Parade generally only occurs when Lag BaOmer falls on a Sunday and schools are off, but due to the significance of this year being the “Year of Hakhel” or the Jewish “Year of Gathering,” a year dedicated to Jewish pride and unity, organizers are bringing it back this year on a Tuesday. Rabbi Shimon Hecht, director of the parade, notes that due to the parade occurring mid-week as opposed to the usual Sunday– when schools are generally closed– it offers the unique opportunity for schools to bring their students as a group.
The Parade is expected to draw a record number of over ten thousand participants of all ages, attracting groups from all over Brooklyn, the Tri-State area, Miami, as well as international representation from Canada, France, England and Argentina among other countries.
When: 10:30 AM-2:00 PM Tuesday, 9 May, 2023 – Parade Begins in Crown Heights
Where: Chabad World Headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213
The parade will pass the iconic “770” building, the headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Starting with the pre-parade live entertainment at 10:30 AM and building towards the main event at 11:30 AM when the parade floats, marching bands and school children will pass by the thousands in attendance.
When: From 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM Tuesday, 9 May, 2023 – Lag BaOmer Fair and Carnival
Where: Corner of Lefferts Ave, between Kingston Ave and Brooklyn Ave
The Lag BaOmer fair by NCFJE and partners Mask and Interborough Developmental and Consultation Center, will continue the joyous celebration with over 25 rides, face painting, shows and other carnival favorites.
About Lag BaOmer: Lag BaOmer — this year, Monday evening, May 8 and Tuesday, May 9, 2023 — is a festive day, commemorating the anniversary of the passing of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Rashbi — the abbreviation of his name by which he is known — wanted the day his soul ascended on High to be one of joy. The light and warmth of a bonfire — a frequent feature of Lag BaOmer, especially in Meron, Israel, where Rashbi is laid to rest — is symbolic of the great flame of G‑dliness Rashbi brought into the world through his teachings.
Additionally, Lag BaOmer commemorates another event: In the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a plague raged amongst the disciples (Rashbi was among them) of the great sage Rabbi Akiva and on Lag BaOmer the dying ceased.
For more information, visit Chabad.org/LagBaOmer.
