Avraham Fried Back at Parade

By COLlive reporter

Jewish music superstar Avraham Fried has confirmed his participation as a performer in the Great Lag BaOmer Parade at Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights.

Fried’s name was missing from the first roster of musicians and entertainers publicized shortly before Pesach by organizers for the Sunday, May 22 event of Jewish unity and pride.

The line-up included music superstar Mordechai Ben David, children’s favorite Uncle Moishy and the up and coming star Benny Friedman.

“They’ll perform some of their own music as well as medleys together that will resonate with people of all backgrounds,” said organizers of the parade, a collaborative effort between Tzivos Hashem, NCFJE and Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch.

But readers of COLlive.com wondered where was Fried, a Lubavitch Chossid who was a major draw and performer at last year’s Great Parade on Eastern Parkway.

“He originally had a conflict of scheduling which was arranged by his producer,” a source now tells us. “Fried made an extra effort – which we are grateful for – and has now confirmed he will be coming to the parade.”

Or as his nephews, Shmuly and Bentzi Marcus would say: Avremel will be parade, paradin’.

54 FOOT FLOATS

The Parade’s main theme, Ahavas Yisroel – Jewish Unity, will honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who specifically asked that his yahrtzeit should be commemorated with joy and celebration, and will continue the tradition of beautiful Lag BaOmer parades started by the Rebbe.

Those who joined The Great Parade last year will agree that the atmosphere of 35,000 men, women and children was truly joyous, and this year will be no different with the crowds enjoying a truly unforgettable experience.

All Jewish schools are invited to take part in this extraordinary experience by signing up to be a part of the parade.

Crown Heights schools and Yeshivas will be involved in creating some of the floats and Chabad House groups from all over the country will be joining the crowds for this exciting event.

Participants will be announced by the MC, together with over a dozen 54-foot colorful floats showing scenes of Jewish life, military marching bands, school marching bands, and roaming clowns, to name a few.

During the course of the parade, the crowds will be entertained by some of the greatest Jewish music talent.

1940’s TRADITION

Parades of this kind started in the 1940’s with the ‘Mesibos Shabbos’ rallies in Brooklyn led by the Rebbe which brought Jewish children of all backgrounds together, to sing, say Torah pesukim and celebrate their Jewish pride.

Since then, whenever Lag BaOmer occurs on a Sunday, a massive parade is held on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

Much work and preparation goes in to making The Great Parade the huge success it is.

Four major Jewish organizations jointly plan for the logistics of The Great Parade: National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education, Tzivos Hashem, Mesibos Shabbos and Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch.

They work closely with the local Police Precinct and many volunteers who work tirelessly with the planning as well as the logistics on the day.

For more information, to register banners, marching bands, floats and to vote for your t-shirt color preference on the day, visit TheGreatParade.com