A Momentous Lag B’Omer Celebration in Northern California

Lag Bomer in Northern California was a momentous celebration of historic proportions!

Close to 500 men, woman and children from as far north as Humboldt county, down to S. Cruz in the south, and Sacramento and Roseville in the east, came together to celebrate this sacred and joyous day in achdus and unity. The excitement was palpable as guests gathered in front of Bais Menchem in S. Francisco where the entire block of 28th Avenue was closed off in honor of the occasion. Huge banners, posters and flags adorned the street as police vehicles and officers mounted police on horses stood by. As the background music played and the crowd got bigger, so did the smiles on everyone’s faces.

Children and adults, new friends and old connected with each other, some of whom had driven more than five hours to attend the special occasion. The event hadn’t yet begun, yet everyone was already having a great time. 400 chairs were set beautifully with personalized Lag Bomer cookies as well as pennies for each guest to put In tzedaka. As the crowd settled in their seats, students from Shalom School, Bais Menachem, Sacramento Jewish Academy, Pleasanton Cheder and Nigri Online School came up to lead the Torah Pesukim. These youngsters stood glowingly on stage and bellowed out the holy words of Torah with such confidence and pride. You could feel the streets of SF being elevated with each holy word they uttered. A unique moment was when close to 80 rabbis and Shluchim stood on stage and in unison sung Hinai Mah Tov together.

How heartwarming it was to see the team of Shluchim (who together with their wives and families) have transformed the Jewish landscape of Northern California with dozens of Chabad houses, schools, preschools etc. As they stood together in unison and achdus singing this beautiful melody, it was clear that in this moment they were being transported to the wonderful memories of a time gone by when the Rebbe would lead us with this very melody on Lag B’omer in front of 770.

And then came the amazing concert with singer Yossi Rodal, who rallied the crowd with passion and excitement with his beautiful songs and nigunim.

Next was a sight to behold! It wasn’t long before circles formed and hundreds of smiling Jewish children together with their parents and teachers started to sing and and dance flooding the street with such simcha and joy. Who could have imagined, history was being made with Jewish joy and pride now becoming such a natural phenomenon right here on the streets of S. Francisco? It feels like this is just the beginning of an exciting future for these “locally grown” children who will certainly continue to carry forth the torch of Judaism into the streets of Northern California until the arrival of Moshiach.

As everyone settled in their seats, the floats and parade began to roll. First was the mitzvah cable car followed by gorgeous floats. The theme was Hakhel and Sacramento Jewish Academy skillfully and artistically crafted a float with a globe depicting how through the study of Rambam, Jews from all over the world are united together.

The next float, designed and created by the Pleasanton Cheder, was truly a masterpiece. It depicted the ultimate hakhel with Moshiach when all of the shuls will join together to be part of the third Beis Hamikdash!

All were able to see the float with the beis hamikdash surrounded by the Altnai Shul from Prague, the Churva shul from Yerushalyim, the great synagogue of Florence, and of course, the beis hamikdash shebibavel, 770!

Right after that was the Bais Menachem float with the king reading from the Torah to all the yidden in the Bais Hamikdosh during Hakhel.

Coming up right after that were the marching bands. Fabulously orchestrated, each school marched with their band. Each rhythm seemed to be perfectly in sync with their proud Jewish hearts and glowing faces, expressing deep and inner joy and pride of being Chasid and a Jew.

Hundreds of children and adults then joined the parade all the way into the famous Golden Gate Park for an amazing afternoon of fun and activities including a picnic lunch, cotton candy, snow cones, clown show, raffle and so much more.

In the midst of all this festivities it became apparent that the leading police officer at the parade was Jewish and had never put on teffilin before. As one of the rabbis offered to put on Teffilin and give him a spontaneous Bar Mitzvah, the police officer responded “This is an offer I can not refuse” and so with tears in his eyes and shma on his lips, he put on teffilin for the very first time and had his bar mitzvah at the age of 53.

This was indeed an emotional moment to witness a police officer in full uniform, transcending the limitations of his past and reuniting with his heritage, discovering and deepening his connection to G-d. Perhaps it was so moving because in many ways it captured the essence of what we were all experiencing as we celebrated this amazing Hakhel – Lag Bomer together. A festival of unity reuniting with each other as we bring the vision of our dear Rebbe to life. A vision of thriving Yiddishkeit shining brightly and proudly right here from the streets of S. Francisco.

Thank you to Mrs. Chani Zarchi and Rabbi Gedalia Potash for spearheading the effort. And to all the organizers, volunteers and sponsors without whom this event could not have happened.