Lag BaOmer Back in Lubavitch Town
For the first time in many years, Lag BaOmer was celebrated in the Russian town of Lubavitch with a bonfire and dancing. Leading it were Smolensk Shliach Rabbi Levi Mondshein and Rabbi Shie Deitsch from Moscow. Photos, Video
For the first time in many years, Lag BaOmer was celebrated in the Russian town of Lubavitch with a bonfire and dancing. Leading it were Smolensk Shliach Rabbi Levi Mondshein and Rabbi Shie Deitsch from Moscow. Photos, Video
The title heading is misleading. Lubavitch NEVER had a Bonfire. Not in the city of Lubavitch nor by the Rebbe in NY
Bonfire is Minhag of Eretz Yisroel only
In Likutei Diburim there is a detailed description of how Lag Ba’omer was celebrated in Lubavitch, and there was no bonfire.
Bichlal the practice of lighting bonfires on Lag Ba’omer in chutz lo’oretz is very recent, less than 60 years old; it was copied from Eretz Yisroel. But even there it’s no more than about 120 years old; the original minhag was to do it only in Meron, at Kever Rashbi (and that itself.was copied from an earlier minhag to do it in Yerushalayim at Kever Shmuel, on the 28th of Iyar).