Cautious optimism - this is the feeling that accompanied tens of thousands of Ukrainian Jews last Lag BaOmer. The peace talks raised the mood of the country's tens of thousands of Jews, who wish and pray without ceasing for peace in their country.
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The last Lag BaOmer was celebrated in all Ukrainian cities, with the lighting of bonfires and colorful processions in honor of Rashbi, organized in the best tradition by the rabbis of the cities and Chabad emissaries.
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The processions were held in the streets of the cities, and in some places, special permission was required from the municipality, due to the war situation.
Preparations for Lag BaOmer began immediately after Passover. The Chabad network in the country, JRNU, sent large pallets of branded water bottles for parades, snacks, balloons, and giant signs to all the emissaries, along with a host of content productions.
The Jewish community in Czernowitz held two processions: the first at the synagogue of Rabbi Yisrael of Rozhin, with the participation of hundreds of Jews from the city. "On Friday, members of the community participated in a unique procession in the city of Mazyboz, where the Baal Shem Tov is buried," said the city's rabbi, the emissary Rabbi Menachem Mendel Glitzenstein.
In the city of Zhytomyr, a large procession was held for children and their parents from all over western Ukraine. "Families arrived in full formation," said the emissary Rabbi Shlomo Wilhelm, rabbi of western Ukraine and Zhytomyr. "At the head of the procession marched the children of the 'Or Avner Chabad' school, and all the Jews of the community came together.".
In the city of Kharkiv, which has suffered from numerous shellings, also recently, the joy of Lag BaOmer was celebrated in the historic complex where the 'Tomchei Temimim' yeshiva operated for many years. The celebrations, led by the emissary Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz, opened with a Lag BaOmer procession that took place with special permission from the Kharkiv municipality, and ended with a prayer for peace in Ukraine and the peace of the Jews of the Holy Land.
The boy who survived - led the procession
As alarms and airstrikes became part of the routine, a particularly moving Lag BaOmer procession took place in the city of Odessa – an event that became a symbol of Jewish light in the heart of a dark reality.
Hundreds of children participated in the procession, including 123 children from the Mishpacha orphanage, which is run by the Chief Rabbi of Odessa and Southern Ukraine, Shliach Rabbi Avraham Wolf. The children marched singing and dancing, and participated in exciting activities dedicated to the figure of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the message of unity he represents.
The highlight of the event was when Daniel, 10 years old, a student at the Or Avner School, who survived a drone strike on the floor above his house just a month ago, took to the stage with a burning torch and lit the "Fire of Hope.".
In a short speech, the child said: "They tried to extinguish us - but we will light it up even brighter. I am alive, I am Jewish, and I am not afraid.".
The event moved the entire audience: hundreds of children, staff, volunteers, residents and local soldiers stood and cheered him on, some in tears. The event included performances, plays, songs, candy distribution, Psalm books and balloons carrying prayers for peace – all in a warm and uplifting Jewish atmosphere.
In the city of Vinnitsa, children marched on donkeys that were brought in specially, as part of the community-family event.
Additional celebrations and festive processions were held, as mentioned, in all Ukrainian cities, except for one city, Zaporozhye, where they were forced to forgo the procession this year. "Unfortunately," said the city's rabbi, the emissary Rabbi Nachum Arantroy, "it was not possible to hold the procession in our city, following missile attacks.".
