MKs and mayors posed for photos: "I too will participate in the Lag BaOmer procession" • Watch

May 25, 2016   

On 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, ztk"l, a call he gave over thirty-six years ago. This year, approximately 800 parades are scheduled to take place throughout the country, in which approximately 300 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 mitzvot, and indeed, children from all walks of life in the country participate in the parades. Chabad is recruiting original gimmicks to bring the children of the cities to the parades in honor of the Rashbi. In Karmiel, they launched a 'Hish-Leg' scratch-off card that turned the parade into the talk of the day. In Tiberias, a huge amusement park in the municipal stadium is an attraction. In Jerusalem: a drummers' parade through the streets of a city - and in Eilat: a pyrotechnics and laser show, in an electrifying show. The opening ceremony for the processions was opened by public figures, MKs and mayors, who were photographed with a colorful sign that read: "I too will participate in the Lag BaOmer procession." Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak HaCohen Aharonov, head of Chabad's mission in Israel, notes: "These are precise instructions that the Rebbe gave for the Lag BaOmer procession and gatherings - these are prizes to be given out, Torah study, content for the processions, flags and signage, and most importantly, to try to ensure that there is not a single Jewish child left in our Holy Land who does not take part in the procession." As part of the Chabad youth's extensive preparations for the processions, the supply of 'My Torah' books began earlier this week to be distributed as gifts to children in the Lag BaOmer processions. The 'My Torah' project – within the framework of which the Pentateuch of Genesis appeared this year – was a follow-up to the book 'My Psalms', which was distributed last year during Lag BaOmer processions and was a huge success. As a result, the headquarters of the Chabad youth's 'House Full of Books' campaign decided to launch a series that would encompass the five Pentateuch of the Torah and make them accessible to the children of Israel. The editor of the series, Rabbi Menachem Brod, is convinced that children will love the book, and will be happy to read it and leaf through it again and again, despite the abundance of digital stimuli at their disposal. "This is a book written especially for all the children of Israel, so that even children who do not come from observant homes will learn and read the Torah with joy, just like the booklets that are published every year in hundreds of thousands of copies at the Rebbe's behest." The book is colorful and is accompanied by spectacular illustrations by children's illustrator Shimshon Kotlovsky. The mere act of leafing through the book is a feast for the eyes, and it invites children to dive into the book and read it eagerly. To make it easier for children to read the Torah verses, a simple translation of the verse is provided next to each verse. In addition, each section presents three stories accompanied by illustrations, based on the midrash and legends of the Sages. Frameworks are also provided that encourage children to think about the lessons for our lives that can be drawn from the Torah stories. Short excerpts from Rashi's commentary on the Torah are also provided throughout the book. The book will be awarded as a special gift to children who participate in the processions, in light of the Rebbe's instruction to emphasize the book awards in the processions. Want details about the procession in your city? Come in. [gallery]