Chabad welcomes speaker from Ukraine during Lag BaOmer celebration

LITCHFIELD — The Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer, May 18-19, marks the end of a plague more than 2,000 years ago, as well as the passing of sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, the foundational work of the Kabbalah, according to Chabad of Northwest Connecticut.

In Northwest Connecticut, hundreds of Jewish community members are expected to gather at Chabad, 69 West St., Litchfield at 6:15 p.m. May 18, for the Lag BaOmer holiday, which will be marked with a grand celebration with Kharkiv, Ukraine's Chabad Rabbi, also attending, delivering a message of strength and resilience, organizers said.

A bonfire, live DJ, moon bounce, face painting, petting zoo, a kosher BBQ and other activities will be provided, with food including falafel, hot dogs and all the trimmings, as well as salads, drinks and s'mores. The Lag BaOmer bonfire will feature music and dancing with traditional holiday songs and treats.

The event is organized by Chabad of Northwest CT and will focus on Jewish unity and pride, core values emphasized by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, the Jewish leader whose life and teachings are celebrated on Lag BaOmer. Bonfires are a frequent cornerstone of Lag BaOmer events, their light and warmth symbolic of the great flame of Godliness the sage brought into the world.

“Lag Baomer is a time to focus on living proudly as a Jew,” said Mina Eisenbach, co-director of Chabad of Northwest CT. “It emphasizes that our unity is what makes us strong.”

The Lag BaOmer celebration comes as Jewish communities around the world celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, the most influential rabbi in modern history, who was born in Ukraine in 1902.

Historically, the holiday of Lag BaOmer was celebrated by going out to the fields for introspection and celebration. In 1953, the Rebbe initiated the Lag BaOmer parade. Since then, hundreds of thousands people, with an emphasis on children, have taken part in parades and outdoor celebrations each year.

The event is organized in keeping with the Rebbe's call to celebrate Jewish pride on Lag BaOmer, and is one of thousands of similar Lag BaOmer celebrations in cities across the globe hosted by Chabad-Lubavitch, according to organizers.

As the Rebbe's birthplace continues to be wracked by war and suffering, the 384 ChabadLubavitch emissaries who lead Jewish life in Ukraine continue to lead a massive humanitarian effort, bringing aid to those in the country as well as to tens of thousands of refugees.

“One of the central themes of this holiday is the power of Jewish unity,” said Mina Eisenbach. “By gathering together to celebrate Lag BaOmer here in Northwest CT, we are in fact unifying with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, and all around the world.”

The event is free; RSVP required: chabadNW.org/ unity