By COLlive reporter
The NCFJE organization is telling the story behind the Lag B’Omer parade of 5748-1988 at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights that wasn’t meant to happen.
The yartzeit of the sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was not on a Sunday that year, and large parades were typically only held on Sundays to allow for mass participation.
Nevertheless, a group of Chassidim thought that because that year was Hakhel, a year of Jewish unity, they thought it would be appropriate to hold on even if it was on a Thursday.
NCFJE’s chairman Rabbi JJ Hecht OBM, in charge of the parades, corresponded with the Rebbe on the matter and extended his heartfelt request for the Rebbe to attend personally.
In fact, even Ari Halberstam HY”D, who was a regular at the home of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, asked about it. The Rebbe responded with approval and blessings for the parade but didn’t end up personally attending.
Until later, when the crowd was enjoying the Lag BaOmer fair and saw the Rebbe’s car driving by…
Read the full story here in a special magazine printed by the NCFJE, in both English and Hebrew accompanied by photos of that year’s proceedings. The booklet will also be distributed to all shuls in Crown Heights this Shabbos.
Click here to download the full booklet
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The Great Hakhel Lag B’Omer parade is only 4 days away, reserve seats now at www.The GreatParade.com
In Hayom Yom, the Rebbe writes that Lag B’Omer was always a special day by Chassidim, so much so that they would wait the entire year looking forward to Lag B’Omer, when they would go out to the field and great miracles would occur, especially in regard to children.
It is considered a great zchus to contribute to the expenses of Lag B’Omer celebrations. You can participate by helping to cover the expenses of the parade and fair by donating at www.thegreatparade.com/donate
The Rebbe said that HE will not participate in the parade, but the parade should definitely take place, as evidenced by all the Rebbe’ answers printed in this very booklet,
Don’t forget, it was within the year (only a few months) of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka’s histalkus.
It happened before that the Rebbe said that he will not participate in Lag B’omer parades, nevertheless, the Rebbe spoke and wrote sharply, that the parade must take place, even without his presence.
It is TOTALLY incorrect to say “IT WASN’T MEANT TO HAPPEN”!