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