300 Join Baka Jerusalem Parade

Photos: Yermi Udkoff, Esther Chikly, Ester Abergel

Close to 300 people joined in Chabad of Baka’s Lag B’Omer parade and fun festival at Jerusalem’s First Station.

Directed by Rabbi Avraham and Nechama Dina Hendel, the Chabad of Baka English-speaking community reached out and unified a diverse group of children and adults, following the Rebbe’s call for achdus on this special day.

The program included an energetic rally, a breathtaking acrobatic show, and of course, a spirited parade led by Chabad of Baka’s very own drumming band.

At the end of the parade, participants were treated to thrilling rides and a petting zoo. Each child received a Chumash Vayikra to proudly take home.

Happily participating in the Lag B’Omer festivities were children of the South Jerusalem Friendship Circle, which is a branch of Chabad of Baka.

Alona Burger, a longtime member of the community, marveled at the huge crowd and enthused, “Chabad of Baka is on fire!”

Mark Winick, who is from Chicago and is spending the year in Jerusalem with his family, shared, “This was my best Lag B’Omer experience ever!”

Students at Machon Shoshanat Yerushalayim and Mayanot assisted at the event, which was remarkable considering that many of them hadn’t slept since visiting Meron the night before.

This year’s parade was dedicated to the refuah shleima of Yakir Ephraim ben Rachel Devorah, a young boy in the community who could use our continued tefillos. The piercing voices of hundreds of children reciting “Shema Yisrael” and the other pesukim will surely help bring his healing and protection.