Capetown’s Great Unity Parade

The beaming Head of Security and Law Enforcement for the City of Cape Town was standing with the rabbis at the Lag BaOmer parade on Sunday afternoon.

When asked how many people he counted on his crowd ticker coming in from the Great Parade down the Sea Point Beach Front into the beautiful Green Point Stadium Park he just shrugged “oh, about 1,500.”

It really was a memorable day, as hundreds of people, joined soon by hundreds more, began the march in the misty Sunday afternoon Great Parade of Unity.

Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson and Councillor JP Smith led the way followed by the brass and buckles of the SAPS Marching Band who outdid themselves in a stellar performance bringing pomp and ceremony to a truly special occasion.

The roaring engines of the Harley Davidson brigade and Police Motorcycles fired up the crowd with an electric energy that literally had us marching, to the booming Jewish music of Tyron and Ryan Lipman, in formation and dancing circles down the main road. The proud banner of the Phyllis Jowell School, the Herzlia Schools, and the Sinai Academy, brought together all of the children, their parents, grandparents and hundreds more.

As the crowd gathered near the historic Mouille Point Light House, the “CEO” of Chabad of the Western Cape, Rabbi Mendel Popack ascended the sound truck to bring a message of thanks, firstly to Hashem for the beautiful weather and day, and then to everyone who brought the event together, in the spirit of Lag B’Omer, symbolizing the unity and celebration in the students of Rabbi Akiva, most notably Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai. Deputy Mayor Neilson then shared a few words of greeting from the City of Cape Town.

After the crowd watched the Band go by, the floats took the lead in the procession with loud cheers and rounds of applause going up for each of the creative displays, the Claremont Wynberg Kotel Hamaravi – the Western Wall, the Chabad Bochurim featuring Mt. Sinai on Wheels, the JLC’s Mitzvah Truck, the Valentini and Friends of Chabad Jewish Cycle of Life display, and pulling up in the rear was the Yeshiva of Cape Town El Al Flight to Israel on wheels with virtual pilots “flying” the way…

As the last El Al float passed by, it was time for all of us from every age and means of transport, babies in carriages, kids on shoulders, adults on floats, and even some grannies in wheelchairs, and of course the rest of us on foot, to make our way into the park for the most beautiful setting of lakes, trails, trees, flowers and paths leading to the Great Fair 2011!

Jumping Castles, Rock Climbing, Sliding Water Balls, and a Raging Bull were just some of the many attractions while boerewors, burgers, sausages, corn on the cob, sandwiches, pancakes and even a full on sushi bar provided nourishment for the by now quite hungry crowd.

In the rustic setting of the wired up amphitheatre, the youth of our community really took centre stage as representatives of all the schools came onto stage to recite the Torah Verses followed by the Herzlia Choir performing Holiday songs.

“The Chons” and Crew were holding fort through the afternoon with a beautiful concert giving a Jewish twist to their combination of jazzed up classic and modern hip hop with a powerful theme of Jewish life and spirit running through their line-up.

As the crowd milled around, from food stalls to rides, to musical entertainments, there was one thing you saw everywhere you turned, smiles, beaming smiling faces, celebrating and enjoying the unity of our common and shared values and spirit.

“It’s an amazing day,” said Adam Schapiro, “to see the unity of all of the communities and Shuls coming together, it’s really in the spirit of what Lag B’omer is supposed to be!”