14 | MAY 23 • 2024
J
N
L
ag b’Omer is almost
here, and the Chabad
Lubavitch of Michigan
is presenting the Michigan
Jewish Family Festival at
3-6 p.m. Sunday, May 26, to
celebrate in the biggest way
possible.
The first event of its kind
is hosted in partnership with
The Shul-Chabad Lubavitch,
Chabad of Bingham Farms,
Chabad of Royal Oak,
Friendship Circle, Chabad of
Troy, Chabad of Bloomfield
Hills and Chabad of Livonia.
The festival celebrates
Jewish identity and promotes
community friendship,
warmth and unity in Metro
Detroit — and welcomes
families and people of
all ages, religions and
backgrounds.
The festival activities are
endless: an assortment of
inflatable obstacle courses,
challenges and bounce
houses for older and younger
children alike; a petting zoo,
horse and pony rides, balloon
twisting, face painting, crafts,
marshmallow roasting, laser tag,
a BMX stunt show and more.
The location of the
Michigan Jewish Family
Festival is outside the
Franklin Community House
at 26225 Carol Ave., off
Franklin Road between 13
and 14 Mile Roads.
The festival is in honor
of the Jewish holiday Lag
b’Omer, which celebrates the
anniversary of the passing
of the great sage and mystic
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai,
author of the Zohar. It also
commemorates the disciples
of the great sage Rabbi Akiva
and his message of brotherly
love.
Beginning in the 1950s,
the Lubavitcher Rebbe,
of righteous memory,
encouraged Jewish children
to join together in grand
Lag b’Omer parades as a
show of Jewish unity and
pride. To this day, Chabad
organizes hundreds of
Lag b’Omer parades and
celebrations around the
world every year. This year,
the Lag b’Omer celebration
is commemorating the
upcoming 30th yahrzteit of
the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The day will be full of fun,
but it’ll also be a meaningful
day, as the event will feature
a powerful and uplifting
community prayer service
with inspiring messages from
local community activists,
with current events in Israel
on everybody’s mind.
OUR COMMUNITY
The daytime festival welcomes all to celebrate
Jewish identity, warmth and unity.
DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
Michigan Jewish
Family Festival
to Celebrate
Lag b’Omer
More Lag
b’Omer Fun
Join the Downtown Synagogue
Saturday, May 25, from 8-10 p.m. at the
Lincoln Street Art Park, 5926 Lincoln
St. in Detroit, for a special Lag b’Omer
celebration featuring a bonfire, snacks,
drinks, music and shmoozing. This
event is intended for young adults.
Register at jlive.app/events/7968.
ChabaD of Greater Downtown Detroit
presents “FIRE,” a premiere event
featuring upscale food and beverage
in an outdoor setting and a festive
ambience, Sunday, May 26, starting at
7:30 p.m.
The grill will feature premium meats
and vegan fare, and participants will
enjoy an Israeli style bonfire with a
traditional s’mores bar and live music
with a guest DJ.
The event, made possible by the
generosity of Yuliy and Tatyana Osipov
in memory of Yefim (Ben Chaim)
Mardakhayev, is geared to young
adults 18 to 40 years old. It takes
place at 278 Mack Ave. in Detroit.
Register at jlive.app/events/8020.
Two nighttime cele-
brations will include
bonfires (see ‘More Lag
b’Omer Fun’ below).