City Official Changed Her Mind

Three weeks before Lag BaOmer, Chabad of S. Paulo contacted the city asking for a permit to hold the annual parade and fair in front of the stadium.

The city said no.

Rabbi Moti Begun went on to make other plans, but two weeks before the event, he got an email saying that the location would be given to him after all.

In a race against time, preparations were made for the new location, and a mass Jewish festival was held with rabbis, dignitaries and many hundreds from the local Jewish community.

The 12 Pesukim and Tehillim were said, Jewish-themed floats drove by and clowns and the children marched.

A few days later an official from the city called to thank Chabad for the event.

When asked about the sudden change with the permit, she said that when she heard Chabad were the same people who came to her office on Chanukah she immediately agreed.

“I was going through a hard time and your rabbi came and was so kind, patiently listening and giving advice,” she said.

The rabbi was Rabbi Hirsch Leib Begun, Director of Chabad institutions in S. Paulo.