The Jews who remained in Ukraine despite the war are trying to continue their daily lives despite everything - and today (Thursday) they are celebrating Lag BaOmer, in accordance with the instructions of the local security forces.
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Due to the lockdown in most cities, which went into effect at 8:00 PM, in some places the lighting was brought forward to Wednesday evening, and in other cities it will be held today.
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For example, in Odessa, the important port city in Ukraine that was bombed several times this week: an event in honor of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai will be held today in the city's central synagogue, which is expected to be attended by hundreds of people. Since the synagogue is located inside the city, and in order not to create panic from the fire that will be kindled, the city's rabbi - Rabbi Avraham Wolf - decided to hold the lighting in a barrel on the outskirts of the synagogue's courtyard.
In contrast, in Uzhgorod, the westernmost of Ukraine's cities - a city that has not been bombed even once and that borders Slovakia - about 100 of the city's Jews gathered last night to light the bonfire, dance, and take part in a special program prepared for them.
In the Carpathian capital of Czernowitz, also in the west of the country, 200 people gathered today, led by Rabbi Menachem Glitzenstein - the city's rabbi and Chabad emissary - near the holy site of Rabbi Israel of Ruzhyn, to light a bonfire and rejoice in honor of Rabbi Shimon. As is known, the lighting of the bonfire in Meron was purchased at the time by Rabbi Israel of Ruzhyn, and thanks to this, the Rebbe of Bayan, who is one of his descendants, lights the bonfire in Meron every year.
Additional celebrations - but without bonfires - will also be held in the capital, Kiev, Zhytomyr and other cities. In Dnipro, where the largest concentration of Jews remains as far as is known and where there are also many refugees from the frontline cities, Lag BaOmer will be marked with a series of events together with the city's Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky.
Celebrations of a different kind, including a pilgrimage to the graves of the righteous and a prayer for the end of the war, will be held in the town of Hadytich in the Poltava region and in the town of Neyzhyn in the Chernigov region: Dozens of Jews from across the country arrived in Hadytich yesterday and throughout the day, and they will visit the tomb of the founder of Chabad Hasidism, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, 'Baal Tanya', who is buried there.
""Every year on Lag BaOmer, thousands - from Ukraine, Israel, the USA and Europe - come to these two places, according to a tradition that has lasted for 200 years, to celebrate Lag BaOmer and to pray mainly for the salvation of children.".
""This year we continue this tradition, although naturally the celebrations this year will be significantly smaller and more limited. We hope that the light that rises from Lag BaOmer will illuminate our lives and help us get through the war peacefully," says Rabbi Meir Stambler of Dnipro, who serves as chairman of the Jewish Federation in Ukraine.
The one who returned from Israel to Ukraine specifically to celebrate Haditch with the Jews of his city is Rabbi Nahum Erantroy, the rabbi of the city of Zaporozhye and a Chabad emissary, who was not willing to give up this tradition. "Haditch is the 'miron' of our region, so it was clear that we would go anyway. The Russian army is quite close to Zaporozhye and the region is under bombardment, but we did not want to give up the tradition. This is our opportunity to go to the place and pray for us and all the Jews of the country that we will get through the war in peace.".
Another pilgrimage center is the Zion of the "Middle Rebbe" Rabbi Dober - the second Rebbe in the Chabad Hasidic lineage and son of the "Baal Tanya" who resides in the town of Neyzhyn in the Chernigov region, relatively close to the capital, Kiev.
Rabbi Mordechai Lebenharetz, a Chabad emissary in Kiev: "For 24 years in a row, and this year as well, despite the war, the Jewish community in Kiev has been organizing a trip for the community's Jews to pray on the grave of Rabbi Dober in Nizhyn. According to the tradition of Ukrainian Jews, on Lag BaOmer, many miracles were seen in those who prayed at the Rebbe's grave, and all year long they would wait and look forward to this holy day - so we will come to Nizhyn this year as well, despite the situation.".
Meanwhile, in 25 cities in Israel, including Ashdod, Bat Yam, Kiryat Gat, Netanya and more, special activities will be held for immigrants from Ukraine, as part of hundreds of Lag BaOmer processions organized by Chabad in Israel, which will feature content adapted for Ukrainian speakers and guides who speak the language.
