Parade That Almost Didn’t Happen

A grand Lag BaOmer celebration took place at Godwin Park in Houston, Texas, this past Sunday, April 28, which turned out to be a stunning and sunny day.

The action packed program included the famous BMX Cycle Stunt Show, rides, Houston Police Department Mounted Patrol, Art Cars display, raffles and prizes, music and delicious barbeque.

But it almost didn’t happen this year.

On Friday, April 26, the weather forecast did not bode well at all. 40% chance of thunderstorms for Shabbos and 60% rain for Sunday.

The shluchim sent a ‘pan’ letter to the Rebbe’s Ohel: “We are planning a large outdoor Lag b’Omer program and carnival from 1-4pm. Then later, at 7pm, the Aishel House outdoors concert is expecting 600 people. Rebbe, please daven for us that the weather be excellent and our events be very successful.”

The next day, Shabbos afternoon, Houston was deluged with extreme thunderstorms that dropped 7.4 inches of rain in a few hours. There was massive flooding. Cars parked on the streets were floating away and ruined. It simply was a horrific storm.

When Sunday morning came, the forecast was for more of the same! But instead, the sun started to shine faintly and with time it got stronger and stronger until the day turned out to be a magnificent, clear day. The park event had 600-700 participants. And the Aishel House event was a complete sell-out

The Shluchim quoted the Talmud (Berachos 9a) that “Kedai hu Rabi Shimon lismoch olov b’shaas hadchak.” The merit and prayers of the Rebbe brought forth an open miracle, they said.