Shavei Israel communities celebrate Lag B’Omer
Last week the Jewish world celebrated Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the period between Passover and the holiday of Shavuot, marked in Israel and around the Jewish world with special prayers, visits to the graves of holy men and, for the young (and young-at-heart), bonfires!
Shavei Israel’s communities got into the spirit of the holidays and sent us some great pictures. Here’s a round-up.
Portugal
The banquet table was set with wine, bottles of grapefruit juice and bananas as the Bnei Anousim community in Belmonte celebrated the holiday on top of a mountain. Shavei Israel’s emissary Rabbi Elisha Salas led the festivities, which included and impressive bonfire and some finger licking good barbecued chicken wings.
India
The bonfire took center stage at the children’s activities at the Shavei Israel Beit Shalom campus in Churachandpur, Manipur. There was also a quiz conducted by Shavei Fellows Yonatan Singson and Nachman Haokip; a singing competition; words of Torah from Benjamin Haokip (another Shavei Fellow); and – of course – a performance by the world famous Shining Star Kids. (Well, they’re famous to Shavei Israel’s readers.) The theme of the event, our correspondent in India reports, was “Next Year in Jerusalem.”
Bnei Menashe in Israel
Many of the Bnei Menashe who have made aliyah had their first opportunity this year to celebrate Lag B’Omer in Israel. Here are some pictures of the community in Acre, including joint activities for the youngsters with their Israeli adoptive families, and the makings of a real blue and white Israeli bonfire.
Colombia
The Bnei Anousim community in Bogota took special care to ensure the safety of their Lag B’Omer bonfire this year – they built it inside a barrel! That didn’t stop the community from celebrating as you can see in these pictures.
El Salvador
The bonfire at San Salvador’s Beit Israel community had a bit more room to spread out than in Colombia. The community, led by Eliyahu Franco (who sent us these pictures) recited prayers together (some in the synagogue, some at the bonfire itself) and enjoyed some light refreshments. Were those marshmallows we spotted?
Subbotniks in Israel
There was no bonfire but the vittles sure looked inviting as the Subbotnik Jewish community in Beit Shemesh took to a local park, decorated the tables with party ribbons and barbequed up hotdogs on a stick – a sure crowd and kid pleaser.
Poland
Miriam and Rabbi Dawid Szychowski learned about Lag B’Omer while living in Israel – that was before they were appointed Shavei Israel’s emissaries to Lodz, Poland. So it’s not surprising that their bonfire featured potatoes wrapped in tin foil – a classic Israeli Lag B’Omer treat. There were also hotdogs, vegetable shish kabob and Israeli salad to complete the blue and white flavor of the day.
