On Sunday, Lag BaOmer, parades and children's gatherings will be held in every city and town in Israel - as well as throughout the world - under the slogan "Together all the children of Israel." The parades are held according to the call of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a call he gave over thirty-four years ago.
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The Chabad youth organization, which is organizing the large-scale parade campaign in Israel, said that this year, approximately 500 parades are scheduled to take place throughout the country, in which approximately a quarter of a million children will participate. One of the main goals of the parades is to demonstrate the unity of the people and the deep connection that we all feel to the Torah and its commandments. Indeed, children from all walks of life in the country participate in the parades. This participation is particularly notable this year, given the voices of those who have declared war on the values of the spirit of Israel, and are trying to drag along with them those who do not share their beliefs.
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""It is especially important on Lag BaOmer, when Rabbi Akiva's disciples stopped dying, to demonstrate the sense of unity of all the children of Israel," says Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Aharonov, chairman of the Chabad Youth Association. "The Lag BaOmer processions are an opportunity to participate in the largest demonstration of Jewish unity in the Land of Israel. Every year, our best people and Chabad emissaries spread across the country sit on the meducha for long months, in order to create interesting and engaging processions and gatherings that will attract as many children as possible who will be exposed to the contents of traditional Judaism and the legacy of Rashbi and Rabbi Akiva.".
A large procession is planned in central Jerusalem, in which about ten thousand Talmud Torah students from all over the city are expected to participate; the procession will end with a central gathering in Shabbat Square. Additional large processions will be held in Bnei Brak, Safed, Ashdod, Haifa, Kfar Saba, Netanya, and more. Great activity is also expected with the large crowd coming to prostrate themselves at the grave of the divine Tanna Rashbi in Meron.
As part of a long-standing tradition, every child who participates in the processions receives a special gift – a new and colorful booklet, "A Profitable Deal," which tells of an event that occurred with the tzaddik who authored "Divrei Chaim" from Sanz, and which contains a deep message of love for Israel and giving to others without limits.
Two huge events for children are taking place in New York. One is a huge parade in the Crown Heights neighborhood, and a special amusement park; the other is in the Borough Park neighborhood.
