14 | MAY 23 • 2024 
J
N

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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). 

