Lag BaOmer Parade

Lag BaOmer Parade is a Jewish march through the city streets, which takes places according to the Rebbes directive and request. The parade takes place on 18 Iyar, Lag BaOmer, in honor of the holy sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. In this parade children gather in every place, and proudly express their connection to Hashem, through this parade which marches with slogans about loving your fellowman, loving Hashem, and Moshiach.

In the courtyard of 770, such parades have taken place ever since 5703. The Rebbe himself participates in the parade in Crown Heights, when Lag BaOmer falls out on Sunday. Around the world - according to the Rebbes directive - such parades had started to take place starting in the year 5740.

The Parades in 770

The parades have started already prior to the Rebbes leadership, as annual gatherings for children, which are regular participants of the activities of "Mesibos Shabbos". These parades had taken place only in the courtyard of 770 (in the 'Shalash'), and were intended to demonstrate Jewish strength, and thereby to strengthen the childrens feeling of connection to Jewish values. The Rebbe himself had participated in these parades and spoke before the children.

In the early years, parades had taken place on different occasions, and starting in 5716, they started taking place annually on Lag BaOmer on years which it fell out on Sunday, which is a day off in public schools.

These parades take place on Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights (Brooklyn), and over the years they became more of a larger gathering with the Rebbe, and they marched toward the park. They were organized by the administration of the National Committee for Furtherance of Jewish Education and Tzivos Hashem.