Circle of
Mitzvah Fun
Celebrating Lag b’
Omer outside, from inside.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
W
ith the will of getting
out and celebrating the
holiday of Lag b’
Omer,
local families found a way to enjoy a
socially distanced, three-part obser-
vance, highlighted by before, during
and after participation.
Days prior to the May 12 event,
decorations, including window mark-
ers, posters, balloons and streamers,
were delivered to the homes of those
registered. These adorned their cars,
featuring any chosen mitzvah and
added embellishments to complete
the design.
“They then gathered at the Bais
Chabad of West Bloomfield parking
lot to display their ‘
Mitzvah Mobiles’
and enjoy lively music, words of
Torah and, most importantly, each
other’
s company, all from within their
individual cars,
” said Rabbi Shneur
Silberberg, who, with his wife, Zeesy,
is the center’
s outreach director and
event organizer.
Approximately 30 chalked, feath-
ered, foiled and kid-filled vehicles
circled to the beat of music from a
portable sound system with passen-
gers window-waving across the lot.
A crew of exotic animals was on
hand for parade-goers to view from
afar.
To continue the festivities when
back home again, masked, gloved
volunteers distributed boxed
pizza and to-go packages of Lag
b’
Omer crafts and treats.
The holiday marks the anniversary
of the passing of the great sage and
mystic, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai,
author of the Zohar. It takes place on
the 33rd day of the Omer, which is
the 49-day period between the sec-
ond night of Passover and the holiday
of Shavuot. The Omer is also a time
of mourning in remembrance of the
students of Rabbi Akiva, who died
| faces&places
Jews in the D
of a plague during the first 33 days in the second century
C.E. The practices of mourning are lifted for this day, and
Lag b’
Omer is celebrated with music, often with parades
and bonfires.
“Lag b’
Omer is a festive event which usually includes
people gathering together, outdoors,
” Rabbi Silberberg
said. “Both of these issues are challenging at the moment.
It was beautiful to see how everyone cooperated — not
easy keeping children inside a car — to allow for a safe, yet
communal, exciting, meaningful Lag b’
Omer experience.
Parents and children were thrilled to be able to connect to
one another, albeit from a distance and be reminded that
we are all still part of loving, tight-knit community.
”
BAIS CHABAD
TOP LEFT: Decorated cars circle the parking lot in a Lag b’
Omer parade. TOP RIGHT: Celebrants get a close-up view of an exotic visitor. MIDDLE RIGHT: Jeremy and Chaya Goodman of West
Bloomfield and their children Rochel, 2, Josh, 8 and Jacob, 5, participate in the festivities from both inside and outside their car. BOTTOM LEFT: Lisa Berenholtz of West Bloomfield and her
daughter Ava, 4, enjoy the fun. BOTTOM CENTER: Children reach from their cars to greet a visiting kangaroo. BOTTOM RIGHT: Mitzvah Mobile participants get a look at a very large creature.
MAY 21 • 2020 | 29